Agenda item - The Pupil Premium in Brighton & Hove schools

Note: This item has been referred to the Council for Information.

Extract from the proceedings of the Children & Young People Committee meeting held on the 9^th March 2015, together with a report of the Executive Director for Children’s Services (copies attached).

82.1         Councillor Shanks introduced the report which outlined the national context of the Pupil Premium (PP), the achievement of the pupils who were in receipt of PP, what school leaders were expected to do and how the local authority was supporting and challenging them.  She noted that the report had been referred to the council for information and welcomed the opportunity to bring it to Members’ attention.  She thanked Councillor Wealls for his input in relation to children receiving free-school meals and closing the gap in levels of attainment and asked all councillors who were members of governing bodies to raise the matter at their meetings.

82.2         Councillor Pissaridou stated that all Members should be aware of the report and should take the opportunity to read it.  She noted that 9 out of 10 pupils receiving pupil premium did not achieve the basic 5 GCSE’s and it appeared that there was no significant movement to close the gap. She suggested that there was a need to give schools more autonomy and noted that individual interventions had made the most difference.

82.3         Councillor Wealls stated that the gap had widened for five A-C GCSEs from 31% to 37% and yet the target had been to get it to 20%.  He hoped that action would be taken to address this and that the need to do so would be recognised by the council.

82.4         Councillor Shanks noted the comments and stated that the need to tackle the matter had been identified and with support of all groups she hoped it could be addressed.

82.5         The Mayor noted that the report had been referred for information and moved that it be noted.

82.6         RESOLVED: That the report be noted.