Outcome Theme Group

Enjoying and Achieving

Time: 9.00am – 11.00am
Date: 21st January 2009
Venue: Stalybridge Civic Hall

Present

Graham Ashford - Chair
Ameena Ahmed - SCYP
Joyce Swann - School Improvement, SCYP
Lynn Barber - SCYP Childrens Centres
Kim Brooks - SCYP Education Resource Team
Alan Fish - Scouts & Community
Nick Caws - SCYP
Catherine Moseley - SCYP
Lyndsey Whiteside - SPA

Note taker: Lindsay Patchett

Item 1: Welcome

Graham welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made around the table.

Item 2: Apologies

Stephanie Jones
Penny King
Caroline Gregory
Liz Hughes
Alyson Harvey

Item 3: Notes of last meeting and matters arising

Minutes not distributed – sent to meeting members for comment

Item 4 – Feedback on report to Partnership in December 2008

The report was presented to the Partnership by Graham.

• The report was well received
• Significant moves forward were recognised
• Report cards were summarised – aware of impact and outcomes
• Schools attainment link – reporting what this group had done/attainment report overall on last year – looking at the impact – appeared to be well received.
• A lot of data on achievement but not a lot around enjoy.

A discussion took place surrounding the indicators for Enjoy.

Joyce – The Quality Team had had a lengthy discussion surrounding Enjoyment and felt that pupils enjoyed when they were achieving.
A university student had undertaken some research surrounding Enjoy. The research shows that Enjoy isn’t tangible as not recognised like achieve. Culturally achievement is valued and not enjoyment.
Rita Cheminais – agreed that it is difficult but we need to change culture – need to signal and value at strategic level.
Nick – there is a survey around the borough which will give a measure of emotional health – Tellus survey.
Alan – said that he could provide numbers of attendees to Scout groups.
Lyndsey – trying to increase enjoyment for girls in PE lessons by changing activities and informed the group of “Survey Monkey” which has 10 High Quality Outcomes one of which is enjoy.

Item 5 – Reports on Vulnerable Groups

Deferred as data not yet available

Item 6 - Looked After Children – Report Cards

Kim Brooks presented two Report Cards with regards to Looked After Children

Key Stage 1 – Reading, Writing and Maths – had all improved.

• There is additional reading recovery work for some pupils

Key Stage 2 – Last year hit floor target – exceeded 60% in English

• Hit target year on year in maths

Graham suggested we standardise the years we go back and stated that there was a very definite improvement. Suggest a fluctuation line to go back 5 years.
Key Stage 3 - Always difficult – scores not improved in English – 30% level 5
Maths up at 40%
Science at 40%

Year 8 trial to improve reading levels. A new member of staff had been recruited to be involved in this project.

Joyce asked how additional tuition worked.
Kim confirmed that the additional tuition took place both at school and as private tuition in the home. Additional tuition was available for primary and secondary pupils dependent upon needs.
There are no statistical neighbours at present.

Graham stated that we need a comparison to see how well we are doing.

Ameena asked if there was scope for some other organisations to be involved with LAC to assist with science.

Kim responded that there are lots of activities and work with foster carers and schools. The problem was getting the children and young People to engage in the activities. There is a need to raise the children’s and young people’s self esteem. This is a long term process as some children are very damaged.

Graham said that there are good examples of other organisations involvement.

GCSE – excellent results – only 4 children not achieved out of 26.
Small numbers make graphs appear that the figures are not good.
Trend line needed to give a more accurate picture.
Progress measures would be useful
Best results ever last year.

Care Leavers at 19 is a National Indicator

70% have 1 GCSE
25% have 5 A-C’s – would like to see at least 50%
Working with the Aim Higher.

Judgement on this report card – Heartening – on the outcomes/improving trend.

Attendance of Looked After Children.

• Fixed term exclusions fallen slightly 07-08
• Majority of fixed term exclusions for physical assault
• Working to reduce – zero tolerance

Graham

• It was quite complicated as there is a very big variation in secondary schools.
• A need to look at the proportion of LAC excluded compared to other children

Kim and Catherine to work together to produce data for the next meeting.

Attendance for LAC is improving. There are lots of initiatives.

At this point in the meeting the remainder of the report was deferred until the next meeting.

Item 7 - Schools contribution to Wellbeing

Ameena gave a background to the questionnaire and informed the group that the “Be Healthy” Outcome Theme Group completed the questionnaire due to time restraints.

Questionnaire was passed around for the group to look at and make comments

Comments

• A lot around the process and not much around achievement
• Ameena – can only work in partnership – cannot be done by schools alone
• Nick – measure are difficult to quality due to the area schools are in/lives of children

Next Step

• Ofsted will deliver guidance - due February 2009.
  

Item 8 - New Programme of work and nominated leads

As sub groups undergoing changes and restructure of SCYP, need to see where this group sits before moving on.

Item 9 CYPP review process

• Ameena gave details of the process.
• Is reviewed annually – May this year
• Ameena has started the process
• Key achievements and key indicators
• Each area in Improvement Plan covered
• Various challenges at different stages
• Comments and information for inclusion invited.

Graham commented that Ameena had tried to pull together information from other reports

It was proposed that members of the group be sent an electronic version of the blank form and give it some thought.
Individual drafts to be brought to the next meeting and sent to Ameena/Graham electronically.

Item 10 – Structured conversation on review of Outcomes Theme Group

A discussion took place surounding the future of the Outcome Theme Groups.  Meeting members were asked to feedback to Ameena their thoughts.

Item 11 – AOB

Graham thanked all members for attending.

Item 12 – Date & Venue for next meeting

18th March 2009 – Stalybridge Civic Centre