Agenda item - School OFSTED Presentation

Update on Ofsted Inspections held since the last meeting of the Committee (copy attached)

73.1    The Head of Standards & Achievement, Education & Skills provided an update on schools which had recently been inspected by Ofsted.

73.2    The Committee were advised that since the last meeting, three secondary schools had been inspected. Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) had a Section 5 inspection, and the Head of Standards & Achievement, Education & Skills was pleased to report that it had now moved from ‘Requires Improvement’ to ‘Good’. Cardinal Newman had a Section 8 inspection, and it was noted that it was taking effective action to move back to its Good rating. Blatchington Mill had also had a Section 8 inspection, but the outcome of the inspection had not yet been formally released. 

73.3    Councillor Phillips congratulated BACA on their Good Ofsted rating. Councillor Phillips noted that 23% of schools nationally were rated as ‘Outstanding’ and hoped that all schools in the city aspired to reach that level. The Head of Standards & Achievement, Education & Skills assured her they were.

73.4    Councillor Taylor said he was very pleased for BACA, and that the inspectors had vindicated the leadership of the school. Councillor Taylor noted that the school still had problems with attendance, and asked what support the Local Authority was providing the school to address that issue. The Head of Standards & Achievement, Education & Skills said that the school was an Academy and so its involvement with the School Improvement Team was less than the maintained schools, but there was a known correlation between attainment and attendance, and so there was a city wide focus on improving attendance. Councillor Taylor noted that whilst the GCSE results last year were very good, there were only around 80 pupils in that year group, and as the number of students increased the school would have to expand its curriculum, and he asked if there was partnership work which could be undertaken to ensure the improvement was cemented.  He was advised there was, and that the school worked closely with other schools in the city to share expertise.

73.5    Councillor Russell-Moyle said he was very pleased with the improvement at BACA, and congratulated the school and in particular the teachers for the work they were doing. He noted it wasn’t possible for schools to move from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’ following a one day inspection, and asked if the Authority or schools could request a longer inspection themselves. The Head of Standards & Achievement, Education & Skills said that if a school currently had a ‘Good’ rating and then had a one day Section 8 Inspection, the inspectors could decide to convert that to a two-day Section 5 Inspection which would then allow for the possibility of reclassifying the school as either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Requires Improvement’. A school could potentially request a longer inspection, but logistically it was more difficult as it would need a much larger team of inspectors. 

73.6    RESOLVED – That the Committee noted the update.