Council
Agenda Item 72
Subject: Maintaining Quality Education For All
Date of meeting: 30 January 2025
Proposer: Councillor Helliwell
Seconder: Councillor O’Quinn
Ward(s) affected: All
Notice of Motion
Labour Group Amendment
1) The rise in international league tables e.g. Pisa, of English education since the introduction of academies and free schools under previous Governments, with maths, for example, improving from 27th in 2009 to 11th in 2022.
2) That since 2006 on measures relating to maths and science the UK is performing much lower than it was 2006- 2009, with reading alone remaining stable with the performance in 2006.
2)
3) The improvements in Schools in Brighton & Hove which
have become part of academy chains e.g. City Academy Whitehawk,
Moulsecoomb Primary and PACA are welcome and
valued alongside our local authority schools.
3)
4)
The work that the Cabinet Member responsible for School
Organisation has done to support schools to manage high levels
of debt deficit the Local Authority has permitted
some schools to have incurred endangering the
council’s ability enabling them to continue
to provide quality education.
4)
5)
The opportunity academy chains bring to Brighton & Hove not
only in the quality of education they provide, the freedom of
choice they give to parents, and the savings they would bring to
this council struggling with its own finances. The welcome
opportunity that the government pay awards and increased investment
in SEND education provides our city’s educators to improve
our offer and performance.
Therefore, resolves to:
1)
Request that the Administration Prioritise
children receiving the best education possible either within the
Local Authority or as part of an academy chain or free school as
it works to develop its “family of schools” and all
other policies relating to education.
2)
Request that the Administration Acknowledge the
importance of the legal right of schools being
able to enter into discussions with academy chains without
undue influence from the council and urge that they do
so with information that is fair and balanced on the
benefits of the high quality offer that the local authority
provides to help ensure our children do continue to receive
quality education and parents do have choice.
3)
Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of
State for Education outlining the importance of maintaining the
freedoms and quality of education delivered by academy chains and
free schools.
Supporting Information:
England among highest performing western countries in education - GOV.UK
City Academy Whitehawk - Open - Find an Inspection Report - Ofsted
Recommendations to read if carried:
This council notes:
1) The rise in international league tables e.g. Pisa, of English education since the introduction of academies and free schools under previous Governments, with maths, for example, improving from 27th in 2009 to 11th in 2022.
2) That since 2006 on measures relating to maths and science the UK is performing much lower than it was 2006- 2009, with reading alone remaining stable with the performance in 2006.
3) Schools in Brighton & Hove which have become part of academy chains e.g. City Academy Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb Primary and PACA are welcome and valued alongside our local authority schools.
4)
The work that the Cabinet Member responsible for School
Organisation has done to support schools to manage high levels of
deficit some schools to have incurred enabling them to
continue to provide quality education.
5) The welcome opportunity that the government pay awards and increased investment in SEND education provides our city’s educators to improve our offer and performance.
Therefore, resolves to:
1) Prioritise children receiving the best education possible either within the Local Authority or as part of an academy chain or free school as it works to develop its “family of schools” and all other policies relating to education.
2) Acknowledge the legal right of schools to enter into discussions with academy chains and urge that they do so with information that is fair and balanced on the benefits of the high quality offer that the local authority provides to help ensure our children do continue to receive quality education and parents do have choice.