To consider the Head of Strategy, Engagement and Organisational Development’s Report No. SEO1601 (copy attached), which sets out the work carried out by the Council in relation to improving educational attainment in the Borough.
Presented By:Leisure and Youth
Minutes:
The Cabinet considered the Head of Strategy, Engagement and
Organisational Development’s Report No. SEO1601, which
provided an update on the work of the Council in seeking to improve educational
attainment in the Borough.
The Cabinet was reminded that, whilst
Rushmoor’s primary schools continued to perform well, the GCSE results of
Rushmoor’s secondary schools were not as high as the Hampshire and England
averages and, in some, were significantly worse. Investigation had shown that
recruitment of teachers, especially English teachers, was a significant problem
for schools in the area. In this respect, Fernhill School had recently
interviewed two outstanding candidates to work as English teachers and
expressed a wish to employ both. However, the school’s challenging financial
position meant that it was only able to fund one full time teacher and one for
two days per week. The Council had been approached to
contribute funding towards the remaining three days per week for the first year
only. It was proposed that the cost of the additional
three days, being around £60,000, should be split equally between the school,
Hampshire County Council and Rushmoor Borough Council. It was
further proposed that, if agreed, the teacher would teach at Fernhill
for two days per week and would use the remaining three days to support
improved teaching and learning of English in Fernhill and other Rushmoor
Secondary Schools. It was reported that, in view of
the urgency of this matter, the Chief Executive, in consultation with the
previous Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Youth,
had agreed that a grant of up to £20,000 should be made to Fernhill School from
September 2016. In the meantime, officers would seek contributions from other
organisations to offset the cost to the Council.
The Cabinet discussed the Report and the situation around educational
attainment in general. Whilst support was shown for
the Council’s interventions in educational attainment, Crs. Hurst and Lyon did
not support the decision to give financial assistance to Fernhill School, on
the basis that this could be perceived as favouritism. Members did discuss what
else might assist local schools and ideas included considering starting army
cadet groups within schools and researching the Government initiatives called
‘Troops to Teachers’ and ‘Teach Next’. It as also
suggested that retired teachers could have a role to play in assisting local
schools. It was agreed that educational attainment
would be an ongoing issue for the Cabinet to engage with.
The Cabinet RESOLVED that
(i)
the
action taken by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the
Council and the Cabinet Member for Leisure and Youth, to provide up to £20,000
to be paid as a one-off grant to Fernhill School towards the recruiting of the
teacher, as set out in the Head of Strategy, Engagement and Organisational
Development’s Report No. SEO1601, be confirmed and endorsed; and
(ii)
the process of seeking of
financial contributions from other organisations towards improving educational
attainment, be approved.
NOTE: Crs. D.E. Clifford and K.H.
Muschamp declared prejudicial interests in this item, Cr. Clifford in respect
of his company supplying goods to schools in the Borough and Cr. Muschamp in
respect of his role as a Governor of Fernhill Secondary School and, in
accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, both left the meeting during the
discussion and voting thereon.
Supporting documents: