Agenda item

Report of the Leader of the Council.

This report considers the proposal to recommission Camden Learning to provide school improvement and wider education services on behalf of the Council to its schools.

The report sets out how and why Camden Learning was established. It indicates the requirement for the Camden to act as the supervisory authority and further outlines the changes to the proposed contract specification and any requirements to amend contract schedules.

The report is coming to the Cabinet because it is necessary to agree the award of a contract for school improvement services, training and school support to Camden Learning for the period between 1st September 2023 and 31st August 2026 with a further option to extend for 2 additional years.

Consideration was given to the report of the Leader of the Council.

The Director of Education Commissioning and Inclusion summarised the report which set out the proposal to Cabinet to agree to recommission Camden Learning to undertake School Improvement and wider education services for Camden Council from September 2023 until August 2026.

The Chair thanked officers for the report and invited questions and comments from the Committee. The following was discussed:

-       It was confirmed that the legal status of Camden Learning was a schools company and a separate legal entity to the Council. Camden Learning was a non-profit joint venture company and Camden Council was represented on the Camden Learning Board. It was an ambition for Camden Learning to trade its activity beyond the borough’s borders and use any profits to reinvest in Camden Learning. The financial status of Camden Learning would be continually monitored and assessed annually and as part of Camden’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

-       In relation to Appendix 1 and Camden’s improvement targets, officers confirmed the targets were focussed on the Building Back Stronger Education Strategy targets.

-       A Co-opted Member stated that given the Achievements & Standards 2022/23 paper’s focus on underachieving ethnic groups, the targets to improve those outcomes were not reflected in Appendix 1 as expected. In response, it was explained there was a continued focus on improving performance gaps and addressing the disparity between different socioeconomic groups. On this iteration of the commission, there was increased focus on SEND, however focus on other areas, such as pupil performance and school performance, were maintained. Another Co-opted Member stated the document would benefit from another headline addressing disproportionality.

-       A Co-opted Member commented that the targets in Appendix 1 felt not ambitious enough for secondary and above age groups and suggested the targets could fit better with the Education Strategy. In response, it was stated that it was Camden Learning’s responsibility that schools got back on track, which was testament within the schools reports and Camden Learning’s offer on school improvement. The detailed targets within the Education Strategy were scheduled to be reported to the September Committee, which would provide the metrics on interests raised and represent a more general health of the system as a whole. The targets had been drawn in consultation with Camden Learning and would be built upon in future iterations, which was a collaborative and maturing relationship. Officers noted the comments from Co-opted Members and how they could present Camden Learning reports going forward.

-       A Member asked what the timeframes were to complete the targets, consequences if they were not met, and how Members would know if they were not being met. In response, officers stated that performance and targets were constantly reviewed through live and annual reporting and qualitive data alongside Board meetings throughout the year. There were key accountable officers for each target area and they were moving towards an additional quarterly report assessment process.

-       A Member queried the faith schools position on the Camden Leaning offer and how the Council was involving faith schools in the Camden Learning processes. The Church of England (C of E) Diocese representative Co-opted Member stated that C of E schools valued the offer and support from Camden Learning and they were not looking to opt-out. The Catholic Diocese representative Co-opted Member stated that in their view Camden Catholic schools valued Camden Learning and would want to continue to buy-in to the service, however it would be the decision of the Catholic Academy Trust (CAT) the schools would eventually join.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.