Agenda item

To consider the proposed “statutory core plus commissioning” approach to future school improvement work.

The Deputy Director, School Standards and inclusion introduced the report which set out the proposals for the reorganisation and realignment of core statutory services within the School Standards and Inclusion Service. The changes to the service were borne out of necessity as a number of government grants, that fund posts within the schools Standard service, were being terminated by government with effect from 31 March 2011.  In other cases grants would be paid directly to schools and there was uncertainty as to whether this would include, ethnic minority achievement grant (EMAG) and support for work with Travellers, Roma and Gypsy Children.  Further considerations were being given to: the reduction in resources for the Council, the ramifications of the CSR of which the impact would need to be calculated, the expected white paper which will set out the future role of Local Authorities in relation to schools.  It was unlikely that schools themselves would subsume the funding of the grant aided posts. This was due to schools being asked to make separate savings by reviewing back office functions and procurement functions. This exercise would inevitably lead to reductions in school posts.

The committee noted that section 5 of the report set out the posts proposed for deletion, pending clarification of the core requirements.  The committee noted that other sections of the service would also be looked at to understand if funding was sustainable to maintain them.

Clarification was sought on the future role of EMAG funding and it was noted that schools were likely to receive this as a block grant but there would not be any conditions placed on how the grant was spent.

The committee sought information on the working relationship between the Local Authority and schools. Members asked what agreements could be reached with schools to enable them to fund these posts which had been crucial to raising educational standards in the borough.  It was noted that current central government emphasis was on schools working together in partnership and becoming less the responsibility of the Local Authority.  This was illustrated with some posts being transferred to the control of schools.  The committee learned that, even if the Local Authority were to reach agreements with schools for the funding of this post, there was not a guarantee that they could continue to fund them indefinitely.  The Local Authority were undertaking urgent discussions with schools to advise them to follow their example  and have a vacancy freeze in order to recruit staff that will become  displaced .  There would also be discussion on how the pupil premium will be spent by schools. The committee were informed that the Council was not in a financial position to fund these posts and would need to progress with the termination of posts, as set out in the report, and review of other posts in the School Standards and Inclusion service.

RESOLVED

1. It be noted that formal consultation on proposals for the reorganisation and realignment of core statutory services within the School Standards and Inclusion Service began on 18^th October 2010 and will continue until the 26 November 2010.

2. That delegated authority is given to the Director Children and Young People in consultation with the Chair of General Purposes Committee to sign off amendments and proceed to implementation following formal consultation. This is subject to there being no significant and adverse unresolved comments or substantial deviations form the proposals. In such circumstances a report will be brought back to the next meeting of the committee.

3. That the time table for delivery be noted.