The original review of the effectiveness of current arrangements to support school improvement in Bradford was completed in September 2014 by Professor David Woods.  An interim report on progress made towards meeting the recommendations form the initial report was provided to the Committee in September 2015.

The report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Document “AA”) is the final part of the reporting cycle: reviewing the progress made towards meeting the outstanding recommendations from the initial report.  The report also sets out the next steps in Bradford’s school improvement journey, recognising where achievements have been made and where further work is required.

Recommended -

(1)       That it be noted that, with the completion of the recommendations by Professor Woods this is the final report on his paper.

(2)       That further developments regarding school improvement will be reported through the Education Improvement Strategic Board and the Education Standards report.

(Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

                                                                                    (Judith Kirk – 01274 431078)

The original review of the effectiveness of current arrangements to support school improvement in Bradford was completed in September 2014 by Professor David Woods.  An interim report on progress made towards meeting the recommendations form the initial report was provided to the Committee in September 2015.

The report of the Deputy Director of Children’s Services (Document “AA”) was the final part of the reporting cycle: reviewing the progress made towards meeting the outstanding recommendations from the initial report.  The report also set out the next steps in Bradford’s school improvement journey, recognising where achievements had been made and where further work was required.

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder commended the positive report and the fact that all of the recommendations of Professor Woods had been implemented.  He stressed however that this was not the end of the process but it gave schools a sound base to move on and he was confident that an improvement will be seen in educational standards.

The Leader stressed that education remained a key priority for the district and that the emphasis should be on raising standards regardless of the school setting that the children were in.

The Strategic Director of Children’s Services stressed that every school and every child was in the authority’s line of sight and that real improvements had been made in early years foundation Key stages 1 and 2.

The Deputy Director of Children’s Services referred to the continued journey of improvement and raising standards across the board.  She highlighted the improvement in standards in early years Key stage1.  She reported that a cultural shift had taken place and that the authority had strong relationships with schools in all sectors and worked well with the Department of Education and the Regional Schools Commissioner.  She added that improved results were starting to be seen and that they would continue to improve moving forward.

The head teacher of Carlton Bolling College attended the meeting and outlined the school’s improvement journey from 2013-2016.  He set out the issues faced by the school in 2013, the foundations for success and the impact on results, attendance, teaching, finance, staff training, safeguarding, and sport. He concluded by outlining future developments at the school. 

The Leader thanked the staff team at Carlton Bolling for the  improvements that had taken place and continued to take place at the school.

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder noted the a clear focus on good discipline and behaviour and concentrating on teaching and learning at the school was having demonstrable results.

The Independent Chair of the Education Improvement Strategy Board attended the meeting and explained that the Board met five times a year and had a membership across all phases and included Councillors and senior officers and the Regional Schools Commissioner.  The purpose of the Board was to hold the authority to account in meeting key priorities.  Evidence had been taken from case studies, features of Professor Woods report had been implemented and were beginning to bear fruit.  The Board identified good practice and shared it.  It also identified where practice needed to improve.  Progress was being seen in what were acknowledged to be more difficult circumstances than in London.  There was outstanding practice in every stage but not all stages.  She added that the direction of travel was correct.

The Education, Employment and Skills Portfolio Holder commended the partnership approach of the Regional Schools Commissioner and noted that everyone wanted to be involved in improving the attainment of Bradford children.

The Leader stated that Councillors and the Executive were impatient to see faster rates of progress and would still challenge for Bradford children to get the best education they could.  She stressed that Bradford was the youngest city in Europe and she was impatient for deeper improvements to be made at  a faster rate and welcomed the improvement made to date.

Resolved -

(1)       That it be noted that, with the completion of the recommendations by Professor Woods Document “AA” is the final report on his paper.

(2)       That further developments regarding school improvement will be reported through the Education Improvement Strategic Board and the Education Standards report.

Action:            Director of Children’s Services

Overview & Scrutiny Committee:    Children’s Services