·         Cabinet Member for Education (Councillor Cooper-Marbiah)

·         Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (Councillor Neep)

1.    Cabinet Member for Education (Councillor Cooper-Marbiah):

The Cabinet Member highlighted the following:

·         Merton’s excellent exam results for 2015/2016: noted the following pass rates:  at A Level 86% achieving at least three passes; 81% A* - C English GCSE and 77% A* - C Maths GCSE. The department is planning a celebration event to recognise these impressive results.  Schools are awaiting further information on the new Progress 8 measure which will in future replace the ‘percentage of pupils achieving 5 GCSEs (A*-C) including English and Maths’ as the national headline key performance indicator;

·         School inspections: St Peter and St Paul RC Primary School has recently been inspected and has moved from a requires improvement to a good rating.  Sacred Heart RC and Stanford Primary Schools have also been re-inspected and remain in the requires improvement category, albeit with some elements rated ‘good’, with support for improvement being provided by CSF officers; and

·         School expansions: the contract has now been awarded for the expansion of Harris Merton.                      

In response to member comments, the Cabinet Member clarified:

·         Harris has a good track record and a strong rapport has been developed between the Academy chain and the Children, Schools and Families Department.  Consideration will be given to future Academy partners when and if this becomes appropriate.

2.    Cabinet Member for Children’s Services (Councillor Neep)

The Cabinet Member highlighted the following:

·         Demographic shift: Merton’s demographic shift means there is growing demand for SEND places and additional need to support these pupils through school transition.  The Cabinet Member is mindful that Merton wants to continue to have the best provision despite these pressures;

·         Fragmentation of school types: consideration of how to maintain and enhance Merton’s education provision as schools continue to change (eg: become Academies).  How does the council continue to deliver its education duties around education in these changing circumstances?; and

·         Education, Care and Health Plans (ECHP): currently the target of issuing new ECHPs within 20 weeks isn’t being met (25% within the timeframe against an 85% target).  This reflects that this is about personalised provision and this takes time to frame including working across departments within the council to deliver for this group.

In response to member comments, the Cabinet Member (with support from officers) clarified:

·         Not familiar with schools having large reserves and this doesn’t fit with her experience of schools looking for efficiencies and cost savings.  Schools do keep around 5 – 10% of their budgets in balances in accordance with guidance from the Audit Commission.  Some may keep more for a finite period in order to pay for larger items such building works.  Typically this will vary with some schools at risk of a deficit budget (which is addressed through the school improvement process).  Yvette Stanley, Director of the Children, Schools and Families Department,  committed to understand if there are some schools with larger reserves than recommended in guidance; and

·         There is an increase in pupils with SEND.  The percentage increase is larger than the percentage rise in the general child population in Merton.  This is reflected in a rise in the number of and requests for ECHPs.  There is a growing population of children in Merton on the Autistic spectrum and with complex needs.