Agenda item

To receive an update on the work that had progressed regarding the Education Review, and seek approval to progress the work with schools and governing bodies in the North East Planning Area.

Cabinet received a report that informed that education in North Tyneside was a strong performer regionally and nationally.

It was reported that the Authority considered education was the catalyst for social mobility and the mitigation of deprivation; that championing the learner continued to sit at the heart of the Authority’s decision making. The Authority continued to work with schools to tackle the priorities within the Ambition for Education document and the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Inclusion Strategy to improve outcomes for all pupils, to build on the Authority’s partnerships to transform lives, uncap the potential of children and young people, and mitigate against the longer-term impact of COVID-19.  It was acknowledged all of this needed to be achieved in a challenging environment for both schools and the Authority.

The report to Cabinet provided:

·       Outline the national and local context

·       Outline the key strategic challenges currently facing the education system in North Tyneside, the work already underway as part of the Strategic Education and Inclusion Review, and the further work required to tackle the challenges in partnership with educational leaders. 

The key challenges were:

o   Financial sustainability of Schools, in particular, Secondary provision;

o   Increasing demand in relation to Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND);

o   Post-16 Provision; and

o   Local Plan proposals on School Places and Catchment areas.

Resolved that Cabinet

   i.          Noted the key elements regarding the national and local context and noted the continued challenges facing education; 

 ii.          Recognised the significant work that had happened in relation to the key strategic challenges regarding Special Educational Needs and Disabilities provision prior to and since joining the Safety Valve Intervention Programme in April 2023 and agreed to progress the work identified;

iii.          Noted the work that had progressed regarding the Education Review; and agreed to progress the work with schools and governing bodies in the North East Planning Area and to seek a firm commitment by the end of October 2023 from them to protect the integrity of the current three-tier system and to continue to collaborate and work closely together to ensure educational and financial sustainability;

iv.          Agreed that if no firm commitment was received from schools and governing bodies in accordance with recommendation (3) above, to receive a further report to allow Cabinet to consider the alternative options available to the Authority to manage the existing financial risk;

 v.          Noted the activities in relation to Catchment area amendments across the borough; and the intention to begin engaging with schools to explore options around future capacity / demand potentially arising from Local Plan Strategic sites;

vi.          Authorised the Director of Children Services, the Director of Commissioning and Asset Management and the Director of Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Inclusion, Employment and Skills, the Cabinet Member for Supporting and Protecting Children and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources to take all necessary steps to progress the work set out in the recommendations above; and

vii.          Agreed to receive further reports as required on the progress made as set out in the recommendations above.

(Reason for decision: It reflects the priorities agreed by the Elected Mayor, Cabinet Member, Headteachers and Chairs of Governing Bodies).