To receive a verbal update on the work of the Regional Schools Commissioner with the Borough’s academy schools.
Minutes:
The Committee welcomed Catherine Turton-Ryz, Regional Lead in the Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) Office for North West London South Central England. Catherine Turton-Ryz had been invited to give an update on the work of the RSC in relation to Wokingham’s academy schools.
Councillor Mickleburgh asked if the RSC had any concernsthat some academies may not be responding as well as some others to the multiple challenges resulting from the pandemic. Is there any additional specific monitoring in place to detect if and when this might be the case? Are there additional and new supports in place for any academies that might be experiencing pandemic-related problems?
Councillor Mickleburgh also asked what did the RSC believe were the most common problems facing academies in our Borough and what additional actions are being taken to help tackle these problems.
Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that there were no particular concerns about the schools in the Wokingham Borough. She stated that attendance to school was closely monitored by the RSC, they also received soft intelligence from the education team in the Local Authority and would follow up any concerns.
Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that if there were significant concerns they would offer the Covid recovery school to school support package. This consisted of matching a school leader in the sector to dedicate an amount of time to help the school.
Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the most common problem facing schools were: responding to outbreaks, reduced leadership, staff capacity and financial hardship. Schools were not being able to let out their premises like they used to, and were suffering with loss of earnings.
Councillor Mickleburgh asked the following questions:
· Particularly in view of current rising levels of financial hardship in many families, does the RSC monitor at all the costs that Academies impose on parents – particularly very expensive ‘school branded’ uniforms and sports clothing; and is this an area in which the RSC possesses any ‘levers’ to try to limit the impact on families?
· How would you characterise the working relationship between the RSC and our borough and in the spirit of ‘continuous improvement’, do you have specific areas and ways in which this working relationship could be strengthened?
Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the RSC did not have levers to compel schools to choose good value for money uniform. It was up to the each trust board or governing body to source their uniforms. The RSC published on the website the best practice guidance on school uniform, it was clear in that guidance that schools should give high priority to the costs considerations. The RSC was urging schools to consider how to deal with uniform non-compliance which may come as a result of the financial difficulties being faced by many families as a result of the pandemic.
Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the relationship with the local authority in Wokingham was very good and it was strengthened during the pandemic.
Councillor Richards asked how progress and performance at schools was going to be monitored this year, in view of the pandemic. Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the exams next year were being delayed to June and July, and it was expected that the results would reflect the school attendance inconsistency which happened this year.
Sal Thirlway stated that in Wokingham there had been no school closures. He also stated that school attendance, including that of children with EHCP, was high. The school improvement team was working closely with schools in response to the pandemic.
Councillor Loyes asked if there were any particular concerns about Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) children in Wokingham schools. Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that there were no particular concerns locally. Sal Thirlway stated that the service was very mindful of the BAME community and the impact of the pandemic on both students and staff, they were working to minimise and mitigate risk as much as possible.
Councillor Swaddle asked about the process of selecting and choosing the trust provider for the Northern House School. Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the school had now been transferred to the Chiltern Trust, and the RSC believed that this was very positive. Catherine stated that the matching process involved considering the trust’s expertise and ability to bring improvement to the school as well as having the capacity to take on the school. Catherine stated that Chiltern Trust already run a very successful school in Buckinghamshire and she was confident that they would be able to bring rapid improvement to the school.
Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that it was important for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) academy schools to have a good relationship with the local authority, and she believed that there was a good relationship between the Chiltern Way Trust and Wokingham.
In response to a question Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that Ofsted visited ‘inadequate’ schools once a term, however because of the pandemic these visits had now stopped. She stated that Ofsted was independent of the Department for Education (DfE). She stated that because the school had now joined a new trust, she believed the school would not be formally inspected for two to three years. She stated that the RSC would hold regular conversations with the trust to monitor the school’s progress.
Councillor Swaddle expressed concern that the Committee would not be receiving any evidence based information on the improvement of the school for two to three years. Sal Thirlway confirmed that there was a good working relationship between the local authority and Chiltern Way Trust and the service would continue to monitor the progress and improvement at the school. Sal pointed out that Chiltern Way had commenced the improvement programme at the school prior to them having formally taken on the school, showing commitment to the improvement agenda. Sal felt confident that the trust would be able to deliver the improvement that was expected.
Councillor Swaddle asked about the process of choosing Maiden Erlegh Trust to take on the new Oaktree SEND School. Catherine Turton-Ryz believed that this trust had been chosen because of its expertise and capacity. Sal Thirlway stated that there had been a competitive tender process to choose the trust and Wokingham had taken part in this process.
Councillor Swaddle stated that the Keys Academy Trust, which was a Church of England trust, ran a number of schools in the Borough. She asked if there was a religious implication on the schools being managed by this trust. Catherine Turton-Ryz stated that the trust had to sign a document stating that the education they provided was the same to church schools and community schools.
RESOLVED That the Regional Schools Commissioner update be noted.