Agenda item - Early Headline: Standards and Achievement Brighton and Hove Schools and Colleges 2016-17

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

29.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Families, Children & Learning which outlined the early headline results of the national tests in summer 2017. The report was introduced by Head of Education Standards and Achievements

29.2    Councillor Phillips referred to paragraph 3.6.3 which stated that 67% of pupils had achieved Grade 4 in English and Maths, and asked if that was a combined percentage. The Head of Education Standards and Achievements said it was.

29.3    Councillor Phillips referred to paragraph 3.7.1, and asked why there was a 42% drop in AS Level entries. The Head of Education Standards and Achievements said that was a result of AS Levels being phased out.

29.4    Councillor Brown congratulated the schools on their results, and commended the Standards and Achievements for their work in supporting the schools. Councillor Brown noted the reduction in levels for Year 1 phonics, and said that the Authority used to have an emphasis on supporting younger pupils and asked if that could be a priority again. The Executive Director, Families, Children and Learning said that it was a priority but previously it was high for younger pupils and worse for older pupils.

29.5    Councillor Penn asked how many children had started an A Level course but did not take the final exam, as she understood that some schools encouraged pupils to drop subjects if they didn’t achieve a high enough result in their mock exams. The Head of Education Standards and Achievements said he did not have those figures.

29.6    Mr M Jones noted that this was an interim report, and asked if the final report could show the statistics between pupils within the city, not just against national statistics. The Head of Education Standards and Achievements said the report last year reflected the statistics which Ofsted would consider.

29.7    Councillor Taylor was pleased with how well the schools had coped with the changes to the GCSE exams, and agreed that it would be useful for the Committee to have information on results for different cohorts.

29.8    Councillor O’Quinn felt that AS Levels were stressful for both pupils and teachers and was pleased that they were being phased out, and said that she was delighted that students had done so well in their exams this year.

29.9    RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the report.