The Members of the Sub-Committee are asked to consider whether

they have a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any of

the items on this agenda and if so to declare it and state the nature of

such interest.

The members of the Committee were asked to consider whether they had a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any item on the agenda and, if so, to declare it and to state the nature of the interest. The following declaration was made:

Councillor Chris Meaden – a personal interest in general as her daughter works in the Department of Children’s Services.

Mr Neale – a personal interest in minutes 28 and 29 by virtue of being a former member of staff, still in contact with members of staff, at Castleway Primary School.

The Chair agreed to vary the order of business.

The Chair has agreed to consideration of this item as a matter of urgent business.

Mike Potter, Principal and Chief Executive of the College will attend the meeting.

The members received a copy of the Wirral Metropolitan College OFSTED Report which had been inspected in May 2010.  Sue Higginson, Vice-Principal at the College attended the meeting and outlined the main findings of the inspection for members.

Sue Higginson reported that the overall main findings at the College were Good.  The inspection had found that the College had demonstrated that it had good capacity to improve outcomes for students and the quality of provision. The proportion of students achieving their qualifications had improved consistently and significantly since the last inspection and was now high in many areas.

Sue Higginson highlighted that the inspection had found that links with employers, schools, the local authority and a range of community groups were outstanding and continuing to develop.  She commented upon the fact that the College was well focused and had an action plan aiming at Outstanding at the next inspection.

Resolved – That the Panel offers its congratulations to Wirral Metropolitan College on its achievement.

Stuart Bellerby, Strategic Service Manager, Secondary & Lifelong Learning, reported that there were currently no Secondary Schools in Ofsted categories

Stuart Bellerby, Strategic Service Manager, Secondary & Lifelong Learning, reported that of the 22 maintained schools, 12 were reported ‘Outstanding’, 7 ‘Good’ and 3 ‘Satisfactory’ – a situation that was well above the national average.

Stuart Bellerby reported upon Bebington High Sports College which had been inspected in April 2010.  He noted that the main findings of the inspection commented that the school was an improving school which provided a satisfactory quality of education for its students.  It further commented that the care, guidance and support the students received was outstanding and that the specialist status as a sports college pervaded every aspect of the school’s life and also had a significant impact on the local and wider communities.  Stuart Bellerby reported upon the areas where the inspection had identified areas for improvement and noted that the school was likely to receive a second monitoring visit.

Stuart Bellerby provided further details of Wirral’s National Challenge and gave an update to members.  He outlined the background to the National Challenge Programme 2008 concerning 6 schools in Wirral and noted that the target for 2011 was that no school would be with the National Challenge Programme.

Mark Parkinson, Head of Learning & Achievement, reported on the five schools which were in special measures, Manor Primary, Well Lane, Castleway, Heygarth and Millfields Primary.

Manor Primary had now been in special measures for a year and had received 2 visits by HMR which had reported that the school was satisfactory although there were still areas of concern.  Mark Parkinson explained the Authority’s Action Plan and reported upon areas being supported including Maths, English and governance.

Marie Lawrence Strategic Service Manager - Early Years & Primary Education, Learning & Achievement Branch reported that Well Lane had a very active programme of support and that staffing issues were being addressed.  The school was now reporting good SATs results and 78% of teaching was now reported to be ‘Good’ or better.  The school had successfully been partnered with Liscard Primary School and professional partnerships had been developed.  The school was aiming to get out of special measures by next spring and the outlook was positive.

The Headteacher of Castleway Primary was reported to be still on sick leave and an Acting Headteacher had been employed on a temporary basis from Brackenwood Junior.

Complaints around the Ofsted inspection were still reported to be ongoing.  The Action Plans for Castleway and Milllfields had now been approved.  

Members would be updated on the progress of all the schools in special measures at the next meeting of the 0-19 School Standards Sub-Committee.

The members received a summary of the outcomes of recent OFSTED inspections of primary schools.  The various schools had been graded as follows:

Inadequate Schools

Castleway Primary

Satisfactory Schools

Hillside Primary

St Johns Catholic Primary

Woodslee Primary

Heygarth Primary

Millfields Primary

Good Schools

Eastway Primary

Park Primary

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary

St Albans Catholic Primary

Heswall St Peters CE Primary

Members commented upon each school in turn and Marie Lawrence commented upon recent progress at the schools.

Recommended – That the reports be noted and the Sub-Committee record its thanks to the Learning and Achievement Branch – Primary Team for their hard work and support.

Paul Ashcroft – Strategic Service Manager – Participation reported that there were currently no special schools in Ofsted Categories.

The members received a summary of the outcome of the Ofsted inspection of Meadowside School.  Overall the findings of the inspection was that it was a very good school that provided outstanding care to its students the majority of whom have profound and multiple learning difficulties or severe learning difficulties.

The members also received a summary of the outcome of the Ofsted inspection for The Lyndale School.  Paul Ashcroft commented that the school had received that the school had received 10 Outstanding grades and 9 Good and that it was an excellent report for the school.

The members received a summary of the outcome of a recent Ofsted inspection of Ganney’s Meadow Early Years Centre.  The outcome had been graded as outstanding in overall effectiveness.

Marie Lawrence commented upon the report and remarked that it reinforced the reputation of the Centre.

Recommended – that the report be noted and the Sub- Committee record its appreciation of this result.

Recommended - That the next meeting of the Sub-Committee be arranged in early December by Mark Parkinson in consultation with the Chair.

The 0-19 School Sub-Committee were informed that Marie Lawrence, Strategic Service Manager - Early Years & Primary Education, Learning & Achievement Branch,  would be leaving the Authority and therefore this was the last Sub-Committee that she would attend.

Recommended – That the Sub-Committee records its best wishes for the future to Marie Lawrence.