The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “I”)provides an interim summary of performance for children and young people attending Bradford schools at the following key stages:

·         Early Years Foundation Stage – 5 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 1 – 7 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 2 – 11 year olds (Unvalidated results based on the Statistical First Release (SFR))

Recommended -

(1)          That the Committee receives the interim report on the performance of Bradford’s Children and Young People in Key Stage tests for 2017 and that additional reports be provided as the Local Authority receives further published data from the DfE; a final report be produced in January 2018 after receipt of validated data.

(2)          That Members be asked to continue to encourage families in their wards to become more actively engaged with their children’s learning, attendance, health and well being in order to further improve their children’s learning  capacity and resilience.

(Judith Kirk – 01274 431078)

The report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services (Document “I”)provided an interim summary of performance for children and young people attending Bradford schools at the following key stages:

·         Early Years Foundation Stage – 5 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 1 – 7 year olds (Provisional results)

·         Key Stage 2 – 11 year olds (Unvalidated results based on the Statistical First Release (SFR))

It was reported that:

·                The interim report outlined some of the key outcomes for Bradford from the 2017 national tests and teacher assessments.  The results relating to these national tests were published throughout the autumn term and consequently the complete confirmed results could not be reported to the Committee until January 2018.

·                Much of the report was based upon unvalidated results.  A few 2017 national averages had been published and where they existed they had been used.  Information relating to specific groups including gender, disadvantage, Looked After Children and those eligible for free school meals, would be included in the final report in January 2018.

·                Results for 2017 generally indicated that the proportion of pupils who achieved the expected standard across the range of subjects and age groups within the Primary Phase continued to rise.  The rate of improvement in some measures were slightly better than the national.  However, these improvements were often not sufficient enough to substantially reduce the gaps that existed with national averages, improvements in the proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard at the end of Key Stage 2, however, were particularly notable.

·                When compared to all other Local Authorities, Bradford results at the end of Key Stage 2 had been ranked higher this year in all subjects with the exception of writing.  In reading, writing and maths results, Bradford ranked 126^th position of the 152 Local Authority nationally which was 13 places higher than 2016.

·                Changes to the GCSE examination system in 2016, and again this year, meant that it was too early in the term to summarise performance at Key Stage 4 accurately.  Further information would be available later this term and in the New Year.  This also applied to Key Stage 5 outcomes.

·                In 2017 80% of Bradford’s Year 1 children (6 year olds) were successful in the phonics screening checks.  This was one percentage point higher than in 2016.  Nationally 81% met the expected standard in 2017 which was the same as 2016.

·                72% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in reading at the end of Key Stage 1 which was an increase of two percentage points compared to 2016.  Nationally 76% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading at the end of Key Stage 1.

·                66% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in writing at the end of Key Stage 1 which was an increase of two percentage points compared to 64% in 2016.  Nationally 68% of pupils achieved the expected standard in writing at the end of Key Stage1.

·                73% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in maths at the end of Key Stage 1 which was an increase of three percentage points compared to 2016.  Nationally 75% of pupils achieved the expected standard in maths at the end of Key Stage 1.

·                56% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at the end of Key Stage 2 which was an increase of nine percentage points compared to 2016.  Nationally 61% pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of Key Stage 2.

·                75% of Bradford pupils achieved the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling at the end of Key Stage 2 which was an increase of six percentage points compared to 2016.  Nationally 77% achieved the expected standard in this area.

It was reported the next steps of continuing to improve performance included:

·                Early Years Learning Team was working with settings and schools to reduce the gender gap.

·                Literacy Hub Early Years Projects focussing on parental engagement.

·                Continue with existing language focussed projects.

·                Continue with monitoring of phonics.

·                Calderdale writing programme for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

·                Reading campaign.

·                Local Literacy Champions.

·                Exploring Hackney Learning Trust Reading Programme for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Members commented on a number of issues which included:

·                Congratulated officers on the progress being made; did the gender data show ethnicity; groups that were under achieving could be targeted.

·                Phonics at the end of Year 2 was close to the national average yet the reading figures were further apart.

·                Bradford still had a high number of children not school ready, how were child minders, health services etc helping to make improvements in this area?

In response to Members’ questions it was reported that:

·                Tackling literacy for boys would be an area that would be looked at.

·                Reading and phonics should not be compared as they were different skills.

·                Bradford had above national average of take up of free two year old places compared to nationally; needed to ensure that there was high quality early years provision in place; the latest data showed that Bradford was above national average on its quality of child care providers; a lot of work was being undertaken on quality of provision and the links with the work of health visitors; key programmes some linked to Better Start Bradford would ensure children were school ready; work was on going with partners  which would look at programmes that needed to be put in place earlier on.

Resolved-

(1)       That the Committee welcomes the improvement in educational standards results and looks forward to receiving a full report in January 2018.

(2)       That all Members of Council be asked to continue to encourage families in their wards to become more actively engaged with their children’s learning, attendance, health and well being in order to further improve their children’s learning capacity and resilience.

Action:           Strategic Director Children’s Services