Agenda and minutes

To agree the Council’s procedure rules for remote meetings.

RESOLVED

THAT the guidance be noted.

To Note: All

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Tiwari.  Councillor Fulbrook gave apologies for lateness. 

No declarations were made.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for at least six months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available on upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes. If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast.”

Any other announcements

The Chair announced the following: 

 ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available on DVD upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

The Chair informed the committee that there had been a request for a deputation regarding item 8 on this agenda but it was late and would not be heard. The Chair had told the deputation group that he would remind the committee of the points they had made in their recent deputations to the scrutiny committee about the closure of Carlton School.      

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 22 February 2021.

RESOLVED

THAT the minutes of the last meeting held on Monday 22 February 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

To Note: All

There was no urgent business.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families

All local authorities have a statutory duty to secure sufficient school places within their area, including promoting high standards of education, ensuring fair access and considering the provision for children with special educational needs.

On 16 December 2020 the Cabinet considered a report detailing the outcome of the initial consultation on a proposal for the future of Rhyl and Carlton Primary Schools. Following the Cabinet decision to approve the publication of a statutory notice detailing a proposal to merge Rhyl and Carlton Primary Schools, through the closure of Carlton School as a legal entity, a notice was published on 21January 2021. The notice had a representation period lasting until 18 February 2021. The statutory notice was published in accordance with guidance for opening and closing maintained schools. This report provides details of the responses received during the representation period. A copy of the statutory notice and statutory proposal is included in appendix 1.

In total, the Council has received 32 representations to the statutory notice. All representations are included within Appendix 3 of this report.

It is clear from the responses that Carlton School and its staff are highly regarded and play an important part in the community, offering vital links for children and families. There is genuine concern as to the future organisation of school places, the potential impact that this could have on children and a sadness about the circumstances that have brought about the proposal for change.

Officers have considered these responses. Having developed the proposal, reflecting the first stage consultation, officers firmly believe that the proposal offers the best opportunity to provide outstanding education over the long-term within this unique area.

The report is coming to Cabinet so that Members can consider the representations made to the statutory notice. The Cabinet is asked to determine, in light of those responses and officer recommendations, whether it wishes to implement the proposal as laid out in the statutory notice.

In addition as part of the first stage of consultation, both the Council and the schools outlined initial views on the range of services that could be included within the school buildings. The Cabinet is therefore being asked to continue to support officers working with the schools and community to develop a sustainable model for the delivery additional services within the merged school, making use of the space made available by the reduction in overall pupil numbers.

Should the Cabinet agree to implement the proposal then the school organisation changes would take place from September 2021.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families

Following the Cabinet decision to approve the publication of a statutory notice detailing a proposal to merge Rhyl and Carlton Primary Schools, through the closure of Carlton School as a legal entity, a notice was published on 21January 2021 with a representation period lasting until 18 February 2021. 

The Council had received 32 representations to the statutory notice that were included in Appendix 3 to the report. It was clear from the responses that Carlton School and were highly regarded and played an important part in the community, offering vital links for children and families. There was genuine concern about  the future organisation of school places, the potential impact that this could have on children and a sadness about the circumstances that have brought about the proposal for change.

Having considered the responses officers had developed the proposal with the firm belief that it offered the best opportunity to provide outstanding education over the long-term. Should the Cabinet agree to implement the proposal then the school organisation changes would take place from September 2021.

The following points were made during consideration of the report:

·         The Chair outlined the concerns and points about the closure of Carlton School that had been raised by recent deputations to this scrutiny committee. These included not wanting the merger to go ahead, the impact on the pupils at Carlton School, lack of engagement with parents, low response to the consultation and the impact on the local community

·         Assuming the merger of the schools went ahead what opportunities would there be for community involvement? 

·         A difficult decision to be made and distressing for the parents. How accessible had the consultation been and was there any breakdown on the ethnicity of those that had responded?

·         Why had the financial information requested by the community alternative proposal to the scheme not been provided?

·          What provision was in place for pupils at Carlton School to catch up with education?  

·         How many applications for schools places had been made to what would be the merged Carlton Rhyl School for 2021?

·         What funding commitment had been made for the community hub proposal for the next 5 years?

·         What steps had been taken to support the mental health and wellbeing of the pupils and parents that would be affected by the proposals?

·         How do we ensure the success of the merger and what other schools were at risk of closure?  

·         A school governor co-opted member of the committee spoke from personal experience of the difficult decision to close a school and said that the Council had managed it well. Having a Choice Manager to look at the needs of the children had been helpful. Once they had settled at a new school, parents who had been concerned about the proposals were delighted. The longer the delay the more stressful and unsettling it is for pupils. 

The following points were then made in response to comments  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Report of the Director of Camden Learning

A summary and analysis of the attainment and achievement of pupils in Camden schools in 2019-20. In addition to analysis and information about results and performance, it also identifies some key areas of development and priorities for the future.

Consideration was given to a presentation from the Director of Camden Learning that provided an analysis of the attainment and achievement of pupils in Camden schools in 2019-20. In addition to the analysis and information about results and performance, it also identified some key areas of development and priorities for the future. As part of their consideration of the report the committee  received a summary presentation (Appendix A) that included:    

·         Phonics (2019 & 2020) summary  

·         Key Stage 2 - Attainment (2019)

·         Key Stage 4 - Attainment 8 (2020)

·         Key Stage 4 - Attainment (2020)

·         Post 16 - level 3 APS

·         Disadvantages Pupils KS4 (2020)

·         Ethnic Groups Summary - KS4 (2020)

·         Somali Pupils KS4 (2020)

·         White British Disadvantaged - KS4 (2020)

·         Gender –KS4 (2020) strong/standard pass

·         Attendance by Sector (from September 2020)

·         Attendance of Vulnerable Pupils (from September 2020)

·         Exclusions (2019/20)

·         Reasons for Exclusion

·         Exclusions by Ethnicity (2019/20)

The Chair welcomed the information that had been provide in the presentation and thanked Camden Schools for all their work during the lockdowns and the Coronavirus National Emergency.   

The following information was provided in response to questions raised during consideration of the presentation:

·         The gaps in attainment have changed and this could be due to the way they have been assessed, different learning styles or systemic bias. This last year has challenged how standards are measured and young people have questioned the flexibility and relevance of the syllabus

·         Centre Assessed Grades were used in 2020 and the technical details are still awaited   

·         Camden children and young people will be supported with any gaps in learning and catching up  

·         The collaboration across the Camden family of schools has been stronger than ever during the past year and has included secondary schools moderating together    

·         The data in the presentation is data from schools that is shared with their agreement 

·         Areas of focus for the next year included: differentials in English and Mathematics, working with the Richard Reeves Foundation, holiday time provision/support, gendered subject choices and the National Tutoring programme

·         Measures were in place to ensure that children and families dealing with exclusion, domestic violence and financial difficulties remained visible, safe and supported

·         Work was taking place on the school exclusion scrutiny panel recommendations and there would be a report back to this commitee     

·         Primary and secondary school colleagues were part of a focus group for Year 6 to Year 7 planning the transition from primary to secondary school, with a comprehensive summer programme of activities  

·         The end of this school year for GCSE and A Level students would vary depending on their courses, virtual work experience and summer programme activities    

The Chair thanked Jon Abbey Director of Camden Learning and Christine Gilbert Chair of Learning Board for attending.

This was a very unusual year with a great deal of detailed analysis taking place to support the recovery needed by Camden children and young people.  

RESOLVED

THAT the presentations be noted.

To Note: All

The Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee is

asked to note the meeting dates for the 2021/22 municipal year that will take place at 6.30pm on:

·         Thursday 1 July 2021

·         Wednesday 1 September 2021

·         Monday 8 November 2021

·         Tuesday 14 December 2021

·         Tuesday 18 January 2022

·         Tuesday 1 March 2022

The Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee noted the provisional meeting dates for the 2021/22 municipal year.  Meetings would take place at  6.30pm on:

·         Thursday 1 July 2021

·         Wednesday 1 September 2021

·         Monday 8 November 2021

·         Tuesday 14 December 2021

·         Tuesday 18 January 2022

·         Tuesday 1 March 2022

To Note: All

There was no such business.