Decisions for issue Closing the Gap and use of Pupil Premium

60.1    The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services which outlined gaps in achievement for different pupil groups in the city, and the actions being taken to raise achievement. The report was presented by the Head of Standards and Achievements, and was joined by Mr A Harrold (Head Teacher, Blatchington Mill Secondary School) and Ms A Cummings (Assistant Head Teacher, Dorothy Stringer Secondary School).

60.2    Mr Harrold said that secondary school Head Teachers within the city were collaborating with each other to look at how standards could be raised. There was a focus on attainment, behaviour and high quality learning. Attainment was the most important issue, and schools were focusing on that. Ms Cummings said that those on pupil premium were generally around a year behind other students and therefore looking at the best ways of assisting them was important.

60.3    The Chair asked Mr Harrold and Ms Cummings why they thought there was a variation between the schools. Ms Cummings said there would be a number of reasons, but felt the main issues were the quality of teaching and length of the journey a pupil would have to travel to school; a long journey could impact both on a pupil’s performance and their level of attendance at school.

60.4    Councillor Barradell asked what was being done to reduce the variation in achievement.  Mr Harrold said the schools had been working with both the Head of Standards and Achievements and each other, to look at ways of addressing the issues. One area agreed on, was to compare the best and worst teachers at each school, as that had a big impact on attainment.

60.5    Councillor Brown was concerned at the gap in attainment, but was pleased that it was being addressed and that schools were working together to look at the issue.

60.6    Councillor Daniel suggested that there were a number of things which could impact on attainment, such as living conditions, distance to travel to school, having the correct uniform etc. and asked if schools took account of that. Ms Cummings said that there were always barriers to learning, and schools would look at each individual child and consider how they could be assisted. For example, there may not be a printer at the child’s home or the family couldn’t afford the correct uniform, in which case the school would help where it could. 

60.7    Ms Holt asked how it was ensured that schools were spending the pupil premium funding appropriately. Mr Harrold said that schools had an obligation to publish information about pupil premium on their webpage.

60.8    Mr Glazebrook asked if schools shared ideas on how to use the pupil premium funding, and was advised they did. Ms Cummings said that all schools had a ‘pupil premium champion’, and both primary and secondary schools liaised with each other.

60.9    The Assistant Director, Education and Inclusion said that the Local Authority and secondary school heads were working closely together to look at ways raising achievement and closing any gaps in pupil attainment.

60.10  The Chair thanked the Mr Harrold and Ms Cummings for coming to the meeting.

60.11  RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the report.