Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Customers and Community (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Customers and Community updating Members on an item of scrutiny relating to primary school education in the Maldon District. 

The Chairman introduced Nicola Pruden, School Effectiveness Partner from Essex County Council and Rev. Tim Elbourne from Chelmsford Diocese. 

The report provided details of meetings that had taken place with representatives of the Diocese of Chelmsford and Essex County Council to explore some of the recommendations made by this Committee at its January 2017 meeting.  Recruitment and retention of teachers along with lack of affordable housing were highlighted as areas of concern and the report set out some of the ongoing work by the Council to address these.

The Committee were provided, in advance of the meeting, with two summary sheets the standards of education in the Maldon District in 2017, comparing the Maldon District to other districts and its 2016 performance.  Members were provided with additional information regarding education in the District which included:

·                 All Key Stage 1 (KS1) elements had improved in 2017 and Maldon District’s ranking had risen.

·                 Recruitment and retention of strong teachers and leaders of schools was a priority.  It was noted that the problems experienced recruiting into the Maldon District were a challenge seen across all rural areas of the country.  The financial pressures linked to the recruitment and retention of good teachers were also highlighted.  It was noted that housing incentives or ways of getting people to move into and teach long term in the area were required.  The Director of Customers and Community advised that the Council was willing to share its recruitment packs which may be of assistance when recruiting teachers and Governors to the District. 

·                 Governors - There were vacancies for governors across schools within the District.  Ms Pruden advised that they were looking to Parish and Town Councils and whether there was opportunity to utilise their connections with local communities to recruit governors.

·                 Housing – The Director of Customers and Community reported that the Strategic Housing Manager was reviewing housing in the District and the Council was willing to discuss requirements with education providers regarding community led housing.

·                 Officers were working with colleagues to identify further ways of ensuring schools were seen as part of a community.  An example of releasing vacant classrooms in a school which had spare provision was discussed.

The Chairman thanked Ms Pruden and Rev. Elbourne for attending the meeting.

RESOLVED

(i)        that the update on progress in relation to recommendations made in January 2017, be noted;

(ii)       that the performance update of primary education within the Maldon District, be noted;

(iii)      that the following recommendations to the relevant educational providers on key findings and this Council on initiatives to assist the educational providers in improving performance within the Maldon District be agreed as follows:

a.         the Council offers the Diocese of Chelmsford and Essex County Council use of district promotional materials to aid recruitment of Teachers and School Governors within the Maldon District;

b.         that the Council provides details of local Town and Parish Councils to the Diocese of Chelmsford and Essex County Council to enable sharing of Governor recruitment issues by specific area to raise awareness and assistance in recruitment;

c.         the Council facilitates dialogue between Town and Parish Councils with schools within their locality to encourage greater joint working.

(iv)      that future updates relating to progress on the above recommendations are made to the Locality Board and this matter is now concluded by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.