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Agenda item

Quarterly Performance Report - Q3 & Q4 2019/20

Minutes:

Carmel Littleton, Corporate Director - People presented the performance reports for Quarters 3 and 4 2019/20.

 

The following main points were made in the discussion:

·         Work was taking place to narrow any attainment gaps widened as a result of COVID-19. Careful tracking was taking place and there would be a particular focus on catching up. There were high expectations, schools would be held to account and data would be scrutinised.

·         The council had committed to ensuring that all young people in Islington benefited from 100 hours of experience of the World of Work by age 16. There had been a lot of work with secondary schools to achieve this. Although currently only four primary schools were signed up to the programme, a launch had taken place in January and good progress had been made since then with 14-15 schools. Although this was delayed with COVID-19, it would be programmed into the next academic year.

·         In response to a question from a member of the public about whether any demographics were affected more than others, it was reported that the data was a year old; however there had been a focus on exclusions and as a result there had been significant improvements especially in the Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) grouping. A report on this would be submitted to the next meeting.

·         There was a need to focus more on persistent absence. A focus group had been set up. A consistent approach was required. Schools would have to remind parents of the legal requirement for their children to attend school.

·         Concern was raised about parents who did not speak English being unable to home school their children during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reported that groups were being targeted for summer learning. Close relationships were being established to provide help and information on activities that were taking place and could help their children.

·         Data suggested that the attainment outcomes of a child with English as an additional language (EAL) depended on the age at which they joined the British education system. There was a minimal impact if they joined by age five but the impact was greater if they were older when they joined. Officers would be suggesting to schools that they could purchase an App that would help parents of children with EAL.

·         In response to a question from a member of the public about whether the council sent out any information about predicting grades of BAME young people, an officer advised that when it had been decided that summer 2020 exams would be cancelled and instead grades would be predicted, the council spoke to headteachers to ensure the process would be robust. Teacher assessment worked well when well moderated. Senior leaders had been contacted and would be held to account.

·         Concern was raised that some children who did not have a laptop or the internet would not have been working during lockdown, an officer stated that the council had bought 400 laptops and Chromebooks and had received laptops from the Department for Education (DfE) at the beginning of lockdown. [The number of laptops received from the DfE was confirmed as 1,424 after the meeting.] Schools had also lent laptops where they could. Home learning packs had been sent to schools to distribute to those without the internet at home. In total this contained 11 weeks of work and 6 weeks of summer learning. Schools had been asked to sign up to survey work. There had been a significant improvement rate in the NEET (not in education, employment or training) percentage in the last year and work had been continuing throughout lockdown with schools and colleges to ensure a smooth transition.

 

The Committee thanked officers for attending and for all their work during lockdown.

 

RESOLVED:

That the performance report be noted.

 

Supporting documents: