Agenda item - Mathematics in infant, junior and primary schools in Brighton & Hove

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

RESOLVED –

1.    That the range of approaches that schools use to improve outcomes for mathematics in the city be noted by committee.

66.1    The Committee considered a report of the Acting Director Families, Children & Learning which sought to outline a range of different approaches that BHCC had introduced, following Government policy and research evidence to support teaching and learning in Mathematics and the ways that schools in the city had engaged with these. The report was provided by the Head of Education Standard & Achievement, Deputy Head of Mille Oak Primary School and the Head of Sussex Coast Teaching School Alliance.

66.2    The Head of Education Standard stated that as a Local Authority, BHCC had a big school improvement underway and that maths was a great example where Local Authorities had led and co-ordinated this in partnership.

66.3    The Deputy Head of Mile Oak Primary School stated that she worked on pedagogy and gave an outline of her role. It was stated that the mantra was about work group and not training packages.

66.4    Councillor Brown noted that there were many interventions over the years and enquired why participation had fallen and if anything had been done to reverse the trend.

66.5    The Deputy Head of Mile Oak Primary School stated that this was not the case in regard to the latest trend and that efforts to make sure support was provided to schools who didn't have a budget for intervention were being made.

66.6    Councillor Brown enquired if the latest intervention had showed any results yet.

66.7    The Deputy Head of Mile Oak Primary School stated that there was no data yet and that this was not really an intervention, rather it was a project.

66.8    The Assistant Director - Children & Learning stated that all data was looked at each year alongside all partners to ascertain which schools had improved and which were in need of help.

66.9    Councillor Nield enquired if it was significant in any way that there were still more schools that - See vid for clarification

66.10  The Deputy Head of Mile Oak Primary School stated that their project focused on Teaching Assistants and that this was supplied to all support staff.

66.11  Councillor Wilkinson noted the reduction from 18 - 4 and stated that research showed that progress made was exciting and enquired if there were any other plans.

66.12  The Head of Sussex Coast Teaching School Alliance stated that they were commissioned to focus on just this however further works would be up to BHCC.

66.13  The Assistant Director - Children & Learning stated the BHCC would be reviewing programmes currently in place and were looking to learn and continue from this.

66.14  RESOLVED –

1.    That the range of approaches that schools use to improve outcomes for mathematics in the city be noted by committee.