Strengthening the Birmingham Family of Schools-The Role of the City Council
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Strengthening the Birmingham Family of Schools-the role of the City Council A report from OverviOverviewew & Scrutiny Birmingham City Council, JJJaJaaannnnuuuuaaaarrrryyyy 2220200011113333 Contents Preface 333 Summary of Recommendations 444 111 IntroductioIntroductionnnn 888 1.1 Purpose of the Inquiry 8 1.2 Definitions 8 1.3 Why look at academies and the City Council’s role in education now? 9 1.4 Terms of Reference 10 222 Context 121212 2.1 Changing national policy direction and legislation/regulations 12 2.2 Types of academies 13 2.3 Governance arrangements 13 2.4 Latest situation in Birmingham 14 333 Findings 161616 3.1 Academy conversion overview 16 3.2 Role of governors 17 3.3 Education implications of academies 19 3.4 Financial implications of academies 21 3.5 Plans in development – Birmingham Co-operative Partnership Model 23 3.6 How Birmingham is meeting its statutory responsibilities since the growth in Academies 25 3.7 Future role for BCC and its offer to schools: 28 444 Recommendations 313131 4.1 Overview 31 4.2 Vision for education 31 4.3 Reinforcing education as a priority alongside safeguarding 32 4.4 School improvement 33 4.5 School places 34 4.6 Role of Elected Members 35 4.7 Traded Services 36 Report of the Education and Vulnerable Children 00010111 Overview and Scrutiny Committee, JJJaJaaannnnuuuuaaaarrrryyyy 2220200011113333 Strengthening the Birmingham Family of Schools-the role of the City Council 4.8 Consultation on becoming an academy 36 4.9 Progress with implementation 37 Appendix A --- Witnesses 393939 Appendix B ––– List of academies and free schools 414141 Appendix C --- City Council Traded Services 464646 Further information regarding this report can be obtained from: Lead Review Officer: NameName:: [email protected] tel: 0121 464 6435 eee-e---mailmailmail:: [email protected]@birmingham.gov.uk Reports that have been submitted to Council cacann be downloaded from www.birmingham.gov.uk/scrutiny. 00020222 Preface Councillor Anita Ward, Chair of the Education and Vulnerable Children Overview and Scrutiny Committee The educational landscape is changing rapidly not just in Birmingham, but nationally; schools and school leaders have greater autonomy than ever before. However, with these changes comes the growing misconception that the local authority no longer has a role to play in our children’s education; in fact nothing could be further from the truth. The Secretary of State for Education has made clear his view that sees local authorities taking a strategic role in the educational system, while retaining three core responsibilities: 1. Ensuring a sufficient supply of school places 2. Tackling underperformance in schools and ensuring high standards 3. Supporting vulnerable children Nevertheless, if the City Council is to be successful in these roles and fulfil its wider strategic responsibility, it must redefine its role and relationships with education providers across the city. During our review several challenges were identified, but the one overwhelming message we heard was the need for a new debate on education in the city with a shared vision at its heart. This is central to ensuring that the needs of all our children are met whichever type of school they attend. Committee members see this report as an important step in establishing how the City Council can reframe its role to be an effective Education Champion for children, parents and communities. Following this review, members will continue to explore issues relating to the future role of the Local authority in the new educational landscape and this will form the basis of the committees on going work programme. I would like to thank the Councillors involved in carrying out this Inquiry and in particular I would also like to thank all of the schools, organisations and individuals who contributed evidence. Report of the Education and Vulnerable Children 00030333 Overview and Scrutiny Committee, JJJaJaaannnnuuuuaaaarrrryyyy 2220200011113333 Strengthening the Birmingham Family of Schools-the role of the City Council Summary of Recommendations Recommendation Responsibility Completion Date R1R1R1 That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Cabinet Member for October 2013 Services: Children and Family Services i) Prioritises the agreement of a new vision for education in Birmingham and communicates the future local authority role in education that reinforces its statutory responsibilities, succinctly through a set of key principles and values to schools, parents, students and Birmingham residents; ii) Places provision for Special Educational Needs (SEN) at the heart of this vision and at the heart of her work with education leaders in the city, both in mainstream and specialist settings; iii) Convenes a time-limited Strategic Board with an independent chairperson including city education leaders from diocesan authorities, early years, primary, secondary, further education and higher education sectors to formulate both the vision and key principles and values. R2R2R2 That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Cabinet Member for April 2013 Services updates the City Council’s Corporate Children and Family Parenting Policy to ensure a renewed and equal Services emphasis on education for all Birmingham children, whether looked-after or not, alongside safeguarding in the priorities of the work of the City Council. R3R3R3 That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Cabinet Member for April 2013 Services gives an annual City Strategic Education Children and Family Assessment to City Council. Services R4R4R4 That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Cabinet Member for April 2013 Services: Children and Family Services i) Works with academies including free schools so that all parties share the same data and statistical returns at the same time that they make them available to the Department for Education; ii) Works with head teachers (primary and secondary) to review the work of School Improvement Groups including strategies 00040444 Recommendation Responsibility Completion Date for early intervention using data and intelligence, to develop further school-led improvement services which support the senior management teams of underperforming schools to become successful leaders; iii) Makes an announcement to all improvement leads that where other intervention has been unsuccessful the local authority will use its formal powers to address failures in school leadership. R5R5R5 That the Education and Vulnerable Children Overview Cabinet Member for March 2013 and Scrutiny Committee receive city-wide Children and Family performance reports with information grouped by Services ward on: i) School budget deficits and surpluses (at least annually); ii) Pupil attainment against floor targets (twice a year); iii) The work of School Improvement Groups (twice a year). R6R6R6 That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Cabinet Member for April 2013 Services works to manage demand for school places Children and Family by: Services i) Increasing information sharing between the City Council and academies including free schools and studio schools on school places and ii) Collaborating with the Cabinet Member for Development, Jobs and Skills and the Department for Education on auditing available sites for new schools and mapping empty buildings that have the potential to be transformed into schools. R7R7R7 That Elected Members commit to developing All councillors - overseen April 2013 relationships with all schools in their ward and to by the Cabinet Member becoming local champions for education by: for Children and Family Services i) Affirming their commitment to quality Education for all Birmingham Children at City Council; ii) Affirming to parents and carers in their local area that they will endeavour to Report of the Education and Vulnerable Children 00050555 Overview and Scrutiny Committee, JJJaJaaannnnuuuuaaaarrrryyyy 2220200011113333 Strengthening the Birmingham Family of Schools-the role of the City Council Recommendation Responsibility Completion Date represent their interests in working with local “families” of schools; iii) Considering applying to become a governor of at least one school governing body and undertaking governor training as appropriate; iv) Visiting every school in their ward at least once a year to build relationships and support school activities in their role as councillors; v) Inviting head teachers to present to Ward Committees on school progress in a rolling programme to raise awareness of local school safeguarding, standards and successes and vi) Approaching local businesses to form links with schools for work experience placements and apprenticeships. R8R8R8 That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Cabinet Member for May 2013 Services makes clear: Children and Family Services i) How all current and future Traded Services have been reviewed to meet current and future school need and ii) The improved City Council Traded Service offer to schools in a coherent package, so that the City Council is in a stronger position to maintain a suitable service offer in a competitive market place. R9R9R9 That the Cabinet Member for Children and Family Cabinet Member for March 2013 Services: Children and Family i) Encourages governing bodies to notify the Services LA as soon as possible of any intention to consider academy conversion; ii) Publicises that there is a clear expectation from the City Council that governing bodies considering academy conversion, whether voluntarily or under the instruction