Agenda item

A copy of a report by the School Effectiveness Performance Officer: Secondary, which verified performance of Denbighshire schools’ external examinations results at Key Stage 4 and post 16, and provided an analysis of results against benchmarked information and performance against other local authorities, had been circulated with the papers for the meeting.

The School Effectiveness Performance Officer: Secondary (SEPO:S) introduced the report which provided information regarding the performance of Denbighshire schools teacher assessments and external examinations.  All key indicators at KS 4 for external qualifications had improved during the year to be top ten performing in Wales. There had been significant improvement in all indicators since 2010, particularly the Level 2 Threshold and Level 2 including English, Welsh and Mathematics.  A summary of Assessment and Examinations Rankings had been included in the report.

It was explained that the key performance indicator at the end of key stage 4 was the Level 2 Threshold including English, Welsh and Mathematics.  Details of the percentage of pupils achieving the Level 2, and individual school performance, had been included in the Report.  The Level 2 Threshold indicated the number of pupils gaining 5 GCSE A*-C’s or vocational equivalents, and this replaced the 5A*- C indicator used in previous years.  The percentage of pupils achieving the Level 2 Threshold was 83%, which had been 10% higher than the previous year.  This had been the fourth year that the Level 2 indicator had increased in Denbighshire high schools and placed Denbighshire first in Wales in 2012, and this had been a significant improvement moving from eighteenth in 2010.  The HE highlighted the importance of focusing on the improvements achieved with regard to the Level 2 Threshold, particular reference was made to the pupil attainment profile, the success achieved in special schools and the improvement in realised in Rhyl Schools.  She emphasised that it would be important not to become complacent in order to ensure that the improvement levels were sustained.

The SEPO:S confirmed that all schools had improved this year with Blessed Edward Jones and Rhyl High School achieving the highest increases of 22% and 25% respectively for the Level 2 Threshold.  In addition Prestatyn High (91.%), Ysgol Dinas Bran (98.%), Ysgol Glan Clwyd (91%) and St.Brigid’s (96%) had all achieved over 90% for the Level 2 Threshold.  Ten pupils (0.8%) had left school without a recognised qualification in 2012 and this had placed Denbighshire eighteenth in Wales.  Details of the examination result achievements of pupils from Ysgol Plas Brondryffyn and Ysgol Tir Morfa had been highlighted in the report.

Welsh Government had utilised Banding as a way of using national data on school performance in context to group schools according to where they were on their improvement journey relative to other schools in Wales.  Band 1 schools indicated good overall performance and progress, and those in band 5 showed weak performance and progress relative to other schools.  The banding profile of schools in Denbighshire in 2012 had improved and all schools were in Band 2 except for Ysgol Dinas Bran, who remained in Band 1, and Denbigh High School who had improved from band 4 to Band 3.

The performance indicator for post 16 was the Level 3 Threshold, which equated to 2 A levels or vocational equivalents, and results at Post 16 had largely remained static. 

The percentage of candidates achieving the Level 3 Threshold had improved by 3% to 99% in 2012 and this was above the Welsh average of 97%.  The Average wider points score had improved to 694 in 2012 but this was below the Welsh average of 773.  The percentage of A & A* grades had decreased to 19.4% in 2012 from 22.5% in 2011 with the Welsh average being 23.6%.  

The number of candidates awarded the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification's Advanced Diploma had decreased.  However, the qualification had been taken by significantly more pupils in 2012.  The SEPO:S referred to the network of schools and confirmed that they had not created a negative impact and initial problems, such as transportation issues, had been addressed.  

Members were informed that Improving performance in education and the quality of our school buildings was one of the Council’s new Corporate Priorities for 2012-17.  Details of possible risks, and the steps implemented to reduce them, had been outlined in the report.

Councillor A. Roberts referred to the findings of a recent Estyn inspection at Clocaenog school which reinforced the conclusions with respect to the progress made during recent years with the delivery of education within the county.  The HE outlined the contributing factors involved in attaining significant improvements, particular reference being made to schools in Rhyl.  She highlighted the benefits of partnership working with schools and the robust strategies adopted to achieve improvement and continued progression.  The Head of Internal Audit referred to the internal audit report in respect of Rhyl High School and highlighted the improvements achieved in terms of the performance and management of the school.  Councillor E.W. Williams explained that the success achieved had to a significant degree been influenced by the £1.2m invested in Education two years previously to improve the service.

Councillor H..Hilditch-Roberts referred to the possible risks emanating from the challenges in terms of leadership, management and Headteachers and the need to ensure positive progression. He also highlighted the need to profile School Governors when appointed and to examine accreditation for leadership for Headteachers.  The HE acknowledged the challenges with regard to maintaining the current position in relation to the Level 2 Indicator.  She referred to the effects of changing cohorts, particularly on smaller schools, and the consequence of pupils’ performances and profiles on the overall attainment profile of a school.  Reference was made to the need to meet national challenges, issues relating to the Modernising Education Review and the crisis faced with regard to the recruitment and retention of Headteachers.  It was confirmed that leadership and management development courses were provided and very strong partnership work ethics had been adopted with Headteachers and Governing Bodies.  Councillor E.W. Williams stressed the need to publicise and promote Headteacher posts in Denbighshire and referred to the appointment of Business and Finance Managers in schools to assist with financial administrative duties.  He felt that the existence of Business and Finance Managers for schools should be more effectively used to sell headteacher posts to prospective candidates. 

The HE responded to a question from Councillor G. Sandilands and confirmed that Denbighshire did work closely with the Welsh Government and that there was, collectively across Wales, lobbying of the Welsh Government with regard to funding provision, particular in relation to the 14 – 19 category.  The SEPO:S provided an outline of the 14 – 19 funding streams and made reference to the improvements achieved in the areas where the funding had been invested.

In response to questions relating to Denbigh High School, Councillors C. Hughes, R.J. Davies and the officers highlighted the success and level of improvement achieved at the school during the past twelve months.

During the ensuing discussion Councillor D. Owens highlighted the importance of the success achieved in respect of Education provision within the Authority in terms of raising the profile of the County and assisting with its regeneration.     

RESOLVED – that the Committee receive the report and note the performance of schools against previous performance and external benchmarks.