Council scrutinises school performance
Warwickshire schools’ improvement at Key Stage 4 has come under the microscope of Warwickshire County Council’s Children, Young People and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
A report outlining the council’s improvement plan for Key Stage 4 (KS4) performance is presented to the committee at its November 12 meeting. The Key Stage 4 Improvement Plan was produced last year in response to Warwickshire secondary schools not achieving their targets in 2007.
The Children, Young People and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee has identified KS4 performance as a key element of its work programme.
The paper outlines a number of improvements made during 2008 and details how Warwickshire performed significantly better and above the national average over the last academic year.
In 2007, the county achieved 58.3 per cent five A-C GCSE results compared to 62 per cent nationally. With English and Maths factored in, 47.8 per cent of pupils gained five A-C grades compared to 46.7 per cent nationally.
In response, Warwickshire implemented an action plan which included providing specialist additional support for under-performing schools. This included teaching advice, guidance for headteachers on behavioural management and attendance, and additional funding.
In the 2008 results, Warwickshire measured 64.1 per cent five A-C grades – an increase of 5.8 per cent on 2007. A number of schools received their best ever GCSE results.
A total of 51.2 per cent of pupils achieved five A-C grades including English and Maths, compared to a national figure of 47.9 per cent. This was a 3.4 per cent rise.
Cllr Richard Grant, Chair of the Children, Young People and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said: “I am pleased to note that there has been a marked improvement in Key Stage 4 results in 2008. But both the authority and the schools are fully aware of the work that needs to be continued to enable us to reach our ambitious targets.
“Some schools still have plenty of room for improvement and there are groups of young people, such as those who receive free school meals and children in care, who we need to pay further attention to.”
The committee will be looking at the impact and outcomes from the key actions within the improvement plan, identifying what has worked and making recommendations on how to further improve results.
One is example is the six schools which took part in the breakthrough programme, which aimed to raise standards through targeted support for individual pupils at risk of underachieving.
A total of 131 Year 10 and 11 pupils took part, and the schools reported that the programme had significantly increased the attainment of this group. The committee will be asking how this programme has helped the individuals involved and what plans there are to continue such projects.
Children, Young People and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee is a public meeting held on November 12, 10am at Shire Hall, Warwick.