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Purpose: For Decision

Committee EXECUTIVE

Date TUESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2014

Title OFSTED INSPECTION OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
ARRANGEMENTS ON ISLE OF WIGHT

Report of EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR CHILDRENS SERVICES AND
EDUCATION



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. An Ofsted inspection of the Isle of Wights arrangements for school improvement took
place during the week 23 J une 27 J une 2014. A letter setting out Ofsteds judgements
was received on 1J uly (Appendix 1).

2. Ofsteds judgements are overwhelmingly positive and the letter describes the
arrangements as effective, meaning that the work being done is leading to schools
improving and children and young people doing better.

3. This report asks the Executive to note the report, endorse the work that has been done
to date and support the additional steps to be taken following consideration of Ofsteds
areas for improvement.

BACKGROUND

4. The Islands school improvement arrangements were originally inspected in J une 2013
and found wanting in almost every respect. The letter following that inspection
(Appendix 2) stated that the arrangements would need to be inspected again within 12
months hence the inspection in J une 2014.

5. Ofsted only inspects school improvement arrangements in those local authorities where
they have concerns and, consequently, they expect those arrangements to be
ineffective. The task facing the Island was to produce sufficient evidence that this was
not the case here and at a time of the year when there had been no additional test or
examination results for Ofsted to consider.

6. During the week the inspectors studied the Islands documentation its plans,
processes, budgets and its reports on schools analysed performance data, checked
school attendance and exclusion figures, spoke with the Lead Member, senior officers,
groups of headteachers, governors and staff, and scrutinised the many reports that their
HMI colleagues had written about individual schools on the Island during the last year.


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7. The evidence gathered led the inspection team to the conclusion that the Islands
arrangements for improving schools are, indeed, effective. The Executive can see the
substantial progress made since last year by contrasting this years letter with last
years.

8. The Lead Inspector stated that there was no need for Ofsted to return to look at the
school improvement arrangements again.

9. The inspectors identified four areas, by no means unknown to the school improvement
officers, where more work is needed. These relate to further improvement in the
Islands secondary schools, further work to reduce exclusions from schools, the
identification of effective governors to support schools where governance is not strong,
and a point about the collection and analysis of data from schools at different points
during the year.

10. No post inspection action plan is needed but the school improvement team will focus
particular energy on these areas as well as others of high priority as set out in the
document: Improving Education on the Isle of Wight:
http://www.iwight.com/Residents/Schools-and-Learning/Schools/School-Improvement

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

11. One of the main priorities of the Council, set out in the corporate plan, is to improve
educational attainment. This happens when schools improve. The endorsement by the
Ofsted inspection team of the work taking place to bring that about is an important stage
on the journey to realising the Councils aspiration. There are further benefits. The
better the reputation of the school system on the island the easier it should be to attract
parents to come to work here. It is important to celebrate the improvements that have
already taken place and make them widely known.

FINANCIAL / BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

12. The Council increased the budget for school improvement in 2013-14. That increase was
protected for 2014-15. Faster progress towards system health could be made with more
resource but, given the overall financial position, the budget is adequate to deliver the school
improvement function.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

13. The Council has a statutory duty to promote high standards in schools when carrying
out its functions in relation to education so that young people achieve well and fulfil their
potential. The J une 2013 inspection of the Councils arrangements for supporting school
improvement was carried out by Ofsted under section 136 of the Education and
Inspections Act 2006. Following publication of Ofsteds report on this inspection the
Council has set out a strategy for school improvement. The outcome of the recent
Ofsted inspection of J une 2014 demonstrates that the Councils strategy is working and
that the Council is working towards achieving its statutory duty to promote high
standards in schools.

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

14. The Council as a public body is subject to general and specific duties under equality
and diversity legislation and as such has a duty to impact assess its service,
policies/strategies and decisions with regards to diversity legislation and the nine
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protected characteristics (race, gender reassignment, disability, age, sex and sexual
orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership. It
is not considered that there is any negative impact on any of the protected characteristic
groups.

OPTIONS

15. The Executive will need to determine whether to endorse the work being done and
support further work on the priorities identified by Ofsted.

RISK MANAGEMENT

16. The greatest risk to progress is losing the impetus to change that has been created
during the first twelve months of the partnership.

EVALUATION

17. There really is no option than to note the Ofsted letter, support the work done to date
that has been recognised by Ofsted and endorse the work to be done in the future as
suggested by Ofsted. Not to do so would run the risk of derailing the progress towards
much better educational outcomes for the Islands children.

RECOMMENDATION

18. The Executive is recommended to:
Note the Ofsted inspection letter
Endorse the work done to date that has led to such fulsome praise
Support the work planned for the future in terms of further improving the secondary
schools; further improving school attendance and reducing exclusions from school;
improving school governance; and collecting data from schools more regularly.


APPENDICES ATTACHED

19. Appendix 1: 2014 Ofsted letter following the inspection of the school improvement
arrangements.
20. Appendix 2: 2013 Ofsted letter following the inspection of the school improvement
arrangements.

Contact Point: J ohn Clarke, Deputy Director, Education and Inclusion
01962 846464 e-mail john.clarke@hants.gov.uk

JOHN COUGHLAN
Director of Childrens Services
COUNCILLOR RICHARD PRIEST
Executive Member for Childrens Services and
Education