The Committee received a report that followed up from the scrutiny review into post-16 educational attainment.  The review had taken place in June, 2013.  Post-16 educational attainment had been chosen as a priority issue for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2013-14 because of evidence that many young people in Tower Hamlets were not achieving their full potential at this level. Raising attainment at post-16 being a priority for the then Mayor and the Education Social Care and Wellbeing Directorate (now Children’s Services) and it was felt strongly that a scrutiny review could make a valuable contribution to the work on this agenda.

It was noted that the key aim of the review was to explore why post-16 results (AS and A2 Levels) are below average, particularly when considered against performance at GCSE. The review group also sought to understand the barriers which prevented better attainment, and ultimately how the council and its partners could further support schools and young people to increase overall performance at this level. Also, the review group was keen to look at participation in higher education, and young people’s aspirations for employment, as one of the factors which influences their post-16 choices and attainment.

It was noted that the report had made 16 recommendations around four central themes, which were agreed by OSC and by Cabinet:

•           Supporting the transition to post-16;

•           Independent information and advice;

•           Teaching quality; and

•           Parental engagement

The body of the report outlined the progress against these recommendations. The original report with recommendations and the action plan in Appendix 1 which accompanied the report.  The discussion on the report may be summarised as follows.

The Committee:

·         Wished to know how LBTH are helping young people to secure employment (e.g. developing the necessary life skills and the choosing the most appropriate courses for their career development);

·         Heard that whilst many students’ families will accept their children going to prestigious London universities they are less enthusiastic about their children attending universities outside London.  In addition, there are the practical implications regarding the costs involved in living away from home.  Therefore, many of the Boroughs young people decide to attend universities in London and to remain at home with their parents.

·         Wanted to know what is being done in LBTH to address the gender gap in literacy

DECISION

1.    To note the review report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR EDUCATION, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING (R. McCULLOCH-GRAHAM)

(Service Head, Corporate Strategy and Equality (L. Russell)

Senior Strategy Policy and Performance Officer (S. Barr)

Councillor Amy Whitelock Gibbs, Scrutiny Lead for Children, Schools and Families, introduced the report. She summarised the work of the task group in looking at how to improve post-16 attainment. She thanked all those who had given up their time to support the investigation.

The two main trends highlighted were around some students not matching good GCSE grades at A level and also a problem with a narrow range of higher education choices and ensuring students were presented with a full range of options. It was noted that there were a whole set of complex reasons for the issues highlighted and that this was reflected in the  recommendations and action plan set out at the end of the report.

After discussion of the report the Mayor highlighted the importance he placed on education and investing in children’s attainment, for example through the education maintenance allowance. He welcomed the report and agreed to examine the recommendations. He then noted the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the review report.