Report - London Borough of Hillingdon

Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Thursday 16 th October 2003
Meeting to be held at 7.00pm in Committee Room 6
at the Civic Centre, Uxbridge
Committee Administrator : Guy Fiegehen Tel : 01895 277733
Press Enquiries Roy Mills Tel : 01895 250534
Councillors on the Committee
Bruce Baker
Ann Banks
Richard Barnes
Keith Burrows
Geoff Courtenay
Catherine Dann
Brian Crowe
John Hensley
David Payne
Reverend Doug Cave
Tony Little
Geoff Cooper
Vacant
Vacant
Peter Ryerson (Chairman)
Peter Curling (Vice-Chairman)
Substitute Councillors
Santokh Dhillon
Frank Filgate
Janet Gardner
Paul Harmsworth
Phoday Jarjussey
Richard Lewis
Mike Gettleson
Paramjit Sethi
John Major
John Oswell
Jill Rhodes
Andrew Vernazza
Other Voting Representatives
London Diocesan Board for Schools
Westminster Diocesan Board
Secondary School Parent Governor
Primary School Parent Governor
Special School Parent Governor
You are invited to attend the above meeting. Papers for the meeting are attached.
David Brough
Head of Democratic Services
Smoking is not allowed in the Committee Room
Please ensure that all mobile phones are switched off
Parking is available to the public attending meetings – entrance in High Street, Uxbridge
DESPATCH DATE: 10 th October 2003

EDUCATION OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 25 TH
SEPTEMBER 2003
AGENDA
PART 1 – MEMBERS, PUBLIC AND PRESS
1. Apologies for Absence and to report the attendance of any substitute members.
2. Notes of meeting held on 8 th July 2003 and copies attached (Page 1).
3. Declarations of Interest in matters coming before this meeting
4. Exclusion of Press and Public - To confirm that the items of business marked Part 1 will be
considered in public and that any items of business marked Part 2 will be considered in
private.
5. Report of the officers, copy attached
1. Review of Schools' Budgets
- update on schools' deficits:
Martyn Callister, Principal Accountant - Schools
- evidence from Douay Martyrs (secondary) and
Wood End Park (primary) schools
2. The Committee’s Work Programme Page 3
3. Standards at Key Stage 3
- Key Stage 3 strategy:
Mike Merva, KS3 Strategy Manager
4. Date of next meeting
Tuesday 25th November 2003, starting at 7.00 p.m.
PART 2 – PRIVATE, MEMBERS ONLY
6. Any business transferred from Part

EDUCATION
OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 25 TH SEPTEMBER 2003
DECISIONS SHEET
Members Present
Cllrs Peter Ryerson (Chair), Brian Crowe, Peter Curling, Mike Gettleson, John Hensley,
David Payne and Paramjit Sethi
Other Voting Representatives Rev’d Doug Cave & Tony Little
Officers Present Michael Dennison, Roger Turner, Mike Merva, Dave Thomson, Tom Murphy,
Chris Scott & Guy Fiegehen
Decisions Sheet for the meeting held on 2 nd September 2003
Agreed.
Matters arising
1. As Geoff Cooper again was not at the meeting, Democratic Services would contact him about
whether he wished to continue in his role.
2. The Committee asked to hear evidence directly from schools about their budgets. It was agreed
to invite the Chair of Governors and Headteacher from a small number of schools to give evidence
at a future meeting. It was also agreed that
(i) the meeting should start earlier than the usual time of 7.30pm
(ii) at such meetings the Committee will in future devote up to the first half hour considering the
questions it wished to ask witnesses.
Declarations of interest
All members of the Committee are school governors or have a similar role.
It was agreed that the business of the meeting would be conducted in public.
1 Review of Standards at Key Stage 3
1. The Committee thanked Michael Dennison for his report and agreed the proposed methodology.
They asked for a list of schools they could visit and protocols/procedures they should observe.
Members also asked that planning for a possible further investigation, shown in the proposed
timetable for December, should be brought forward to the November meeting.
2. The Committee thanked Dave Thomson for his presentation and asked to see detailed analysis
of gender differences in attainment. The Committee were concerned that schools should make use
of the statistical data available to them and asked for a report on how this could be improved.
3. The Committee were concerned that schools may not value Key Stage 3 sufficiently, noting
evidence that suggested 20% could have been entered for higher level tests in Year 9. The
Committee asked to see information on the mechanisms and criteria schools use to decide the
levels at which to enter students and how far these enabled all students to achieve their fullest
potential. Members also asked for evidence, including any projections based on individual data, on
the extent to which Key Stage 3 performance is linked to GCSE outcomes.
PART 1 – MEMBERS, PRESS AND PUBLIC
Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee 16 th October 2003 Page 1

4. The Committee questioned the impact of changing school at age 11 and asked to see evidence
on whether 11 is the best age at which to do this and on the steps schools take, and are advised to
take, to help students adapt to the very different environment of secondary school.
2 Review of Engage Youth
1. The Committee thanked Tom Murphy for his report and presentation. They noted that youth
services were also the subject of a Best Value review and that Cabinet would be considering a
development plan on 27 th November.
2. The Committee welcomed the principle of consulting young people about the services they
wanted but were concerned about how a balance of all views could be obtained. They welcomed
the suggestion that Members would be invited to the event EYL is arranging. They also asked
Democratic Services to identify other consultation routes that might be help in gathering views e.g.
from young people who don’t use existing services.
3. Members were concerned about how the targets at Objective 3 had been set and how realistic
they were e.g. spending £100 per 13-19 year old. Members also asked for a report on the extent of
existing voluntary provision - and Council support for it - and the scope for doing more.
3 Committee membership
This had been covered under ‘Matters Arising’.
Next Meeting
Thursday, 16 th October 2003. (Starting time half hour earlier than usual at 7.00pm)
Meeting closed at 10.15 pm
This is a summary of the Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee proceedings. If you wish for more detailed
information on any of the information please contact Guy Fiegehen on 01895 277733.
Circulation of this decisions sheet is to Members of the Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Members
of the Coordinating Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Chief Whips, Leaders, the Cabinet Portfolio Holder and
appropriate Officers.
PART 1 – MEMBERS, PRESS AND PUBLIC
Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee 16 th October 2003 Page 2

THE COMMITTEE’S WORK PROGRAMME ITEM 2
Contact Officer
Guy Fiegehen 01895 277733
SUMMARY
This report sets out the Committee’s current and future work programme
for the two major reviews which the Committee have agreed to complete
during this Council year
- Standards at Key Stage 3
- Engage Youth
and for their additional enquiry on school budgets
RECOMMENDATIONS
(1) That the Committee note the report.
(2) That the Committee confirm the timetable, reports and agenda items for
future meetings.
INFORMATION
1. The Committee have to date agreed to the following work programme.
Democratic Services comments are also added.
Major Review: Standards at Key Stage 3
Date Action Comment
Meeting on
16 October
a. Presentation by Mike Merva to include
- activities funded by the National Strategy
- progress in the first year of the strategy
- priorities for further action
ON THIS
MEETING’S
AGENDA
16 October to
11 December
Meeting on
25 November
b. Presentation by schools’ Key Stage 3
coordinators on managing the strategy, its
strengths and weaknesses in Hillingdon
c. Agree programme and protocols for
Members’ visits to secondary schools
a. Members’ visits to schools following
agreed protocols
b. Presentations by schools’ Key Stage 3
coordinators, curriculum deputies or heads
of department on raising standards
Planning for possible further investigation
(brought forward from 11 th December at
Committee’s request)
NOT ON AGENDA.
COMBINE WITH
ITEM b. BELOW?
DETAILS MUST
BE AGREED AT
THIS MEETING TO
MEET REST OF
TIMETABLE
EYL TO ARRANGE
PART 1 – MEMBERS, PRESS AND PUBLIC
Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee 16 th October 2003 Page 3

25 November
to 8 January
Meeting on
11 December
11 December
until five clear
working days
before
January
meeting
Meeting on
8 January
8 January
until five clear
working days
before
February
meeting
Meeting on
10 February
Possible further investigation
a. Report back from presentations and
school visits and discussion of findings and
recommendations
b. Decisions on drafting of report. Working
party commissioned to draft report for next
meeting
Working party writes first draft of report
a. Report back from possible further
investigation and discussion of findings and
recommendations
b. Consideration of first draft of report and its
recommendations
Working Party revise draft and include
findings and recommendations from possible
further investigation
a. Final report is submitted, amendments
and recommendations agreed
CONSIDER
DELAYING DATE
OF JANUARY
MEETING
b. Review and evaluation process is
finalised, together with implementation
strategy for the recommendations
IMPLEMENTATION
STRATEGY
RESPONSIBILITY
OF CABINET
RATHER THAN
SCRUTINY?
2. Other identified items to be timetabled
a. detailed analysis of gender differences in attainment
b. report on how schools can improve their use of the statistical data available
to them
c. report on the mechanisms and criteria schools use to decide the levels at
which to enter students and how far these enable all students to achieve
their fullest potential
d. report on evidence, including any projections based on individual data, on
the extent to which Key Stage 3 performance is linked to GCSE outcomes
PART 1 – MEMBERS, PRESS AND PUBLIC
Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee 16 th October 2003 Page 4

e. report on the impact of changing school at age 11, evidence on whether 11 is
the best age at which to do this and on the steps schools take, and are
advised to take, to help students adapt to the very different environment of
secondary school.
3. A copy of questions the Committee have been considering is attached.
Major Review: Engage Youth
4. The Committee have noted that Youth Services are also the subject of a Best Value
review, and that Cabinet is considering a development plan on 27 th November (EYL
104).
5. The Committee have identified the following items they wish to consider
a. report on how a balance of all young people’s views can be obtained about
the development of youth services, including those who don’t use existing
services
b. report on how the targets at Objective 3 have been set and how realistic they
are e.g. spending £100 per 13-19 year old
c. report on the extent of existing voluntary provision - and Council support for it
- and the scope for doing more.
6. These items could be considered by the Committee on 25 th November.
7. A copy of questions the Committee have been considering is attached.
Additional enquiry on school budgets
8. The Committee are considering two items at this meeting
- update on schools' deficits
- evidence from Douay Martyrs (secondary) and Wood End Park (primary)
schools.
9. The Committee have agreed to consider at the start of this meeting the questions
that need to be addressed to witnesses.
10. The Committee also need to agree any further consideration they wish to give to
this issue and whether to refer the problems identified to the Cabinet for resolution.
Other meetings
11. The Committee also have meetings set for 11 th and 30 th March 2004.
PART 1 – MEMBERS, PRESS AND PUBLIC
Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee 16 th October 2003 Page 5