The Assistant Director for Education introduced a report and appendices that included a summary and a detailed analysis for the pupil outcomes at the age of 5 (Good level of development), the age of 7 (Key Stage 1 SATs) and at the age of 11 (Key Stage 2 SATs). There was a separate report that outlined the attainment and progress for pupils with SEND.

Comparisons had been made with the results nationally wherever possible. However, many of the national results had not yet been published. When the statistical first releases were published in October 2018 the report would be amended.

The Committee noted the following:

The Committee also noted a detailed analysis of pupil outcomes that was appended to the report which could be used to measure the impact of work undertaken in the following pledges:

·  Children are ready for school.

·  Young People are ready for work and adulthood.

·  Vulnerable children reach their full potential.

The report provided detailed analysis of outcomes for all pupil groups at the end of each key stage in the primary phase of education.  The analysis of outcomes had also been provided by locality (Birkenhead, South Wirral, Wallasey and West Wirral).

In respect of Key Stage 1 Members noted that this year a greater proportion of children with English as an additional language (EAL) met the standard. There had been an increase of 8.2% to 66.7%. EAL pupils had attained better than pupils with English as their first language.  In all localities EAL pupils had outperform pupils who had English as their first language.  Attainment of EAL pupils had increased in three of the localities: Wallasey by 16.4%; in West Wirral by 11.8% and in Birkenhead by 9.5%. Attainment of EAL pupils in South Wirral had decreased by 16.8%.

In respect of Key Stage 2 Members noted that the attainment of both the boys and girls had increased. The increase in boys’ attainment by 3.4% was almost double the girls so had narrowed the gender gap. As a consequence of an increase by boys (4.8%) in meeting the standard the Birkenhead locality had closed the gender gap completely.  West Wirral had narrowed the gender gap by 1.9% to 9.1% but this locality still had the widest gender gap.

Also, although the attainment of both SEN and non-SEN pupils had improved the gap had widened by -0.8% to 52.7%. The progress for SEN pupils had improved year on year and was currently -1.2.  The gap had widened in all four localities, despite the proportion of SEN pupils who had achieved RWM in Birkenhead, West Wirral and South Wirral improving by 3.5%, 8.4% and 5.3% respectively.

RESOLVED:

That the report and the appended Standards 2018 reports be approved.