Agenda item

To consider the 2016 test and examination results for Haringey schools.

Jane Blakey, the Head of School Performance, Standards and Provision, reported that there continued to be strong improvement in test and examination results.  The current results were the best to date.  Of particular note was the fact that they borough was 10^th nationally for performance against the new Progress 8 measure.  Priority areas for improvement were Key Stage 2 reading and the performance of African Caribbean and Black African pupils. 

In answer to a question, she reported that the progress made by Turkish pupils was above the Haringey and national average.  They only area where they did not do quite so well Key Stage 2 English.  Despite being born here, some Turkish children could lack fluency in English.  This could be due to English not being the dominant language at home. 

The continuing improvement in results could be due to a number of factors.  There were good leaders in schools and 96% were rated either good or outstanding.  There was forensic use of data which prevented problems and addressed areas of under performance.  Officers and school leaders were also always up to date on the OFSTED inspection framework.  Officers collected targets from schools and challenged them, where appropriate.  In addition, there was a lot of support provided between schools.    There was also strong accountability through the Corporate Plan Priority 1 Board.

In answer to a question, she reported that performance by black African girls varied between different communities.  For examples, Nigerian and Somali girls had very high levels of attainment.  However, other groups did not have such high levels and it was therefore important to break down the figures. There was a black achievement steering group that was looking at relevant issues.  A conference had taken place that had been addressed by Dr Tony Sewell, author of “Generating Genius”.   High expectations and no excuses were the key messages from this.  The Steering Group had put together good practice guidelines for holding schools to account.  A programme was also being developed that was aimed to assist high attaining young people in getting into the top universities. 

Panel Members noted that the African Caribbean community had been in Britain for over half a century and the majority of young people from it could now be more accurately described as Black British.  Ms Blakey commented that the categorisation had been based on census data.

In answer to a question regarding post 16 attainment, she stated that the Steering Group was aiming to ensure that all young people reached their full potential.  There was a split between the east and west of the borough and the aspiration was to close this gap.  Work was taking place with 6^th forms to encourage them to work together and develop further vocational options.  The introduction by OFSTED of the use of retention as a performance measure meant that many schools had become more selective in which young people they enrolled.  The borough’s Sixth Form Centre had aimed to be inclusive in approach but had been assessed as requiring improvement due to its poor retention data. 

Mr Abbey reported that Haringey could be proud of the progress that had been made by the borough’s schools.  Virtually all indicators were now good and in only 4 years the percentage of schools assessed as good or outstanding had gone up from 60% to 98%.

AGREED:

That the issue of ethnic minority attainment be considered further at a future meeting of the Panel.