Agenda item - Analysis of outcomes for Black Minority Ethnic (BME) children and young people in Brighton and Hove

Report of the Executive Director- Families, Children & Learning (copy attached).

1)           That the Committee note the report and endorse the focus across the city on improving outcomes for the particular BME groups highlighted in the report.

2)           That the Committee agree the focus on the impact of disadvantage and the significance this has for some of the BME groups. This report demonstrates that having multiple characteristics (BME and Free School Meal (FSM)) can lead to some groups being at even greater disadvantage and thus at risk of underachievement.

3)           That the Committee agree the next steps as outlined in section 6.

14.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Families, Children & Learning that set out analysis of end of Key Stage results and some progress data for BME children and young people for the 2016 academic year and briefed Members on the interventions implemented to improve any areas of under achievement relating to BME pupils’ outcomes.

14.2      Councillor Phillips asked how schools would action the recommendations set out in section 6 in the current environment of severe budget pressures and any identification of the additional support to ensure that EMAS had sufficient capacity.

14.3      The EMAS Team Leader stated that the recommendations main focus was on a change of ethos particularly raising awareness with staff of unconscious bias and the impact it had.

14.4      Councillor Wealls noted that the data was taken from a small cohort but the broad picture appeared to one of disadvantaged families rather than racism. Councillor Wealls provided an example in that black Caribbean children educationally outperformed white British pupils.

14.5      The EMAS Team Leader replied that deprivation was an important issue but there was an additional element of underperformance in education relating to minority groups that were not cohesive. Mixed minority groups were often not cohesive and were the fastest growing area of population in the city and that presented significant challenge.

14.6      RESOLVED-

1)           That the Committee note the report and endorse the focus across the city on improving outcomes for the particular BME groups highlighted in the report.

2)           That the Committee agree the focus on the impact of disadvantage and the significance this has for some of the BME groups. This report demonstrates that having multiple characteristics (BME and Free School Meal (FSM)) can lead to some groups being at even greater disadvantage and thus at risk of underachievement.

3)           That the Committee agree the next steps as outlined in section 6.