LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
Present: Councillors Upton, Witkowski and Devine.
Officers: Russell Bernstein, Karen Lucas, Lynn Wright and Jason Langton.
Apologies: Councillor Pennington, Councillor Mann Jill Baker and Matt Varley.
Item/Responsible
Member/Officer
1.Best Value
Performance
Indicators 2002/03
Quartile 4.
Presentation
Lynn Wright informed
Members that the
performance indicators
have now been passed to
the Ofsted Inspectors.
Lynn Wright and
Jason Langton.
The committee agreed
to give detailed
consideration to those
indicators, which the
Chairman had
highlighted as requiring
further information.
Further Discussion & Action Required.
Timescale
Councillor Upton raised concerns that so many of the
performance indicators presented in this quartile are below
target and need addressing urgently.
The following points were noted:
BVPI 33 – Youth Service Expenditure.
Members raised concerns regarding under funding of the
Youth Service, and it was suggested that consideration be
given in the next financial year for funding to be allocated to
reflect the needs of the service.
It was reported that Officers have started to establish links
with external sources with a view to attracting additional
funding for the service.
Officers from the Early Years Partnership are working with
providers to achieve the Government targets by 2006.
A Best Value Review of the Youth Service is presently
underway.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
Item/Responsible
Member/Officer
Presentation
Further Discussion & Action Required.
Timescale
BVPI 36b – Expenditure per pupil in local education
authority in respect of primary pupils aged 5 and over.
This indicator works on the basis that the higher the spend
the less efficient the organisation is. This is not the view of
the LEA or Members. Discussions are taking place with
District Audit with a view to revising this definition.
BVPI 38 - % of 15 year old pupils in schools maintained
by the LEA achieving 5 or more GCSE’s at grades A to C
or equivalent & 39 - % of 15 year old pupils in schools
maintained by the LEA achieving 5 or more GCSE’s at
grades A to C or equivalent in English & maths.
With regards to the statement ‘ teachers expectations of
what pupils can achieve is a barrier to improvement’, work is
being done to counteract this barrier; an induction and
training package is available for all staff, as well as
consultants working with the School Improvement Service.
Councillor Upton asked if anything could be done through the
Governing Bodies to encourage the movement of teachers in
our schools. Lynn Wright responded that she would pass these
comments onto John Stephens once he has taken up post as
Deputy Director in August.
Responding to Members questions it was reported that the
authority has a good share of newly qualified teachers. There
are pockets of vacancies in some schools, but overall
recruitment is not necessarily an issue in Salford.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
Item/Responsible
Member/Officer
Presentation
Further Discussion & Action Required.
Timescale
BVPI 40 – the % of pupils in schools maintained by the
LEA achieving level 4 or above in key stage 2 Mathematics
test.
Members asked what action the LEA were taking with regards
to the statement ‘the turnover of both head teachers and
teaching staff effects the stability and focus in schools’. It
was reported that in order to attract new recruits the LEA
have produced recruitment packs and have organised
recruitment fairs. Once appointed each person receives a
detailed induction and training package.
BVPI 41 - the % of pupils in schools maintained by the
LEA achieving level 4 or above in key stage 2 English test.
Members asked for evidence to support the statement ‘the
improved levels of support provided by teaching assistants is
having a positive effect’. Lynn Wright said she would ask
Terry Stringer to respond to Members by the next meeting.
Lynn added that if the LEA does not encourage the
development of teaching assistants, the changes introduced
through the modernising work force agenda would leave huge
gaps in duties not being covered in schools.
BVPI 44 – the number of pupils permanently excluded
during the year from all schools maintained by the LEA per
1,000 pupils at all maintained schools.
Councillor Upton asked what action was being taken to
alleviate the issue of denominational schools not participating
fully with the Pupil Placement Panel. Lynn Wright reported
October
that Judy Edmonds is working with head teachers to rectify
2003.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
Item/Responsible
Member/Officer
Presentation
Further Discussion & Action Required.
Timescale
the situation.
BVPI 45 – the % of half days missed due to total
absence in secondary schools maintained by the LEA.
Members commented on the continued problem with
unauthorised school absences. It was noted that a range of
initiatives have been implemented via the Education Welfare
Service to bring about improvements in levels of attendance.
Russell Bernstein asked about the possibility of officers
providing training and development on performance indicators,
Members welcomed this suggestion.
2. Service Plan
2003/04.
Lynn Wright.
The format of the
Service Plan has been
changed this year and is
the first attempt to
provide an overarching
vision of each of the
October
2003
Agreed:
Officers to provide feedback on the queries raised by
Members on BVPI’s 33, 36b, 38 & 39, 40,41 and 170a.
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED ADDENDUM FOR
OFFICERS REPONSES.
Comments in future BVPI reports need to be better
evidenced.
Lynn Wright to organise a training session on BVPI’s at the
next Performance Management Sub Group meeting.
The Service Plan presented today is an overview report, each
plan from the five divisions provide the background
commentary, and outline how each of them propose to meet
the objectives of the Directorate.
Lynn Wright suggested providing Members with an insight in
October
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
Item/Responsible
Member/Officer
Presentation
five divisions of the
Directorate.
The purpose of the
Service Plan is to guide
the work of the
Directors team and
communicate priorities
to staff.
Further Discussion & Action Required.
to how one service area’s plan is formulated and links to the
overarching Service Plan and the Directorates objectives. It
was agreed that Lynn would choose a division with a model of
good practise for the next meeting of this group.
Timescale
2003.
It was noted that the process is still evolving and if Members
have any suggestions they would be included in the process.
Service Plans of the
Directorate will detail
the actions, which
support the various
objectives of the
Directorate, and they
will also be used to
monitor the work of the
Directors team
throughout the year.
3. Future Dates.
4. Work Programme.
The next meeting date for the Performance Management Sub
Group will be agreed at the full meeting of the Scrutiny
Committee on the 9 July 2003.
It was agreed that due to the Directorates forthcoming
Ofsted Inspection the next meeting would be organised for
late October 2003.
-
9 July
2003.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
Item/Responsible
Member/Officer
5. Any other
business of an
urgent nature.
Presentation
(i) Action Sheet.
Further Discussion & Action Required.
It was agreed that the action sheet from the Performance
Management Sub Group would be presented back to the
Lifelong Learning and Leisure Scrutiny Committee for their
agreement.
Timescale
9 July
2003.
Date of Next meeting: Date to be agreed at the main meeting of the Lifelong Learning and Leisure Scrutiny Committee on the 9 July 2003.
2.7.03
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
ADDENDUM.
LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE.
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP.
Best Value Performance Indicators 2003/04 Quartile 4.
Questions raised by Members in advance of the meeting on Monday 30 June 2003.
BVPI 33 (LINDA PRIDE)
Why is the PI outside the scope of the Youth Service to comment?
The calculation for this PI is currently due, in a way that is different from the method used by the Youth
Service to calculate its expenditure per head of population, as the information used for calculation of the
PI includes central administrative costs, in addition to the Youth Service out turn budget. As the Youth
Service is not informed about the scale of admin costs it cannot comment on this PI.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
BVPI 36b (ROBERT MCINTYRE)
With regards the ‘comments on current performance’ (no. 1) - can you please explain this in more detail?
1.
This BVPI looks at the expenditure per pupil as a measure of performance in education. It has been constructed on the
same assumptions as other financial BVPI’s i.e that a low spend per unit is good and a high spend is bad. Whilst this may
be a partial indicator of efficiency for services like grass cutting etc it is clearly a very poor method of measuring
education efficiency. Most people including the government believe that spending more on education is a desirable
outcome. Salford has a long history of spending above SSA/FSS on education and therefore it is no surprise that based on
this method of calculation that Salford is in the 4 Th quartile. If the council wished to improve its performance then this
could be achieved by reducing its’ spend per pupil ( this means that in the secondary sector for example to achieve a
ranking in the first quartile the city council would have to reduce funding per pupil by approx £600 ). Such a course of
action would result in reduced resources for schools, teacher redundancies and significantly higher pupil teacher ratios.
Under this logic the efficient LEA would teach in large lecture theatres with one teacher for hundreds or thousands of
pupils.
2.
Even if this logic is accepted this indicator is still not a good indicator of an authority’s performance as a major factor
in determining an LEA’s spend on education and therefore its per pupil spend is the SSA/FSS for the authority. This figure
varies between LEA’s depending on deprivation, ethnicity and their geographical location ( LEA’s in London and the
south east receive funding at a higher rate per pupil than those in the rest of the country). LEA’s will therefore be in
different quartiles as a result of central government resourcing issues and not as a result of local spending decisions. Local
spending decisions may then move an individual authority between quartiles. The City Councils decision to spend
approximately 4% above its SSA is therefore a factor in placing it in the 4th quartile.
3.
This BVPI is made even less meaningful in that the costs include capital charges attributed to schools, these reflect
borrowing in previous years for school buildings. Authorities with high debts in these areas will again be in a lower
quartile but this is not a measure of efficiency. Authorities with high capital receipts may not have borrowed for capital
buildings and therefore would have lower costs. This BVPI looks at spend on primary and secondary schools but ignores
special schools, therefore authorities with higher rates of inclusion / resourced schools will have a higher spend than those
with a low level and a large number of special schools.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
In summary the basic logic of this BVPI is flawed large classes and fewer resources for education is not necessarily efficient.
The indicator is strongly influenced by central government decisions on resource allocation and the calculation is not
comparing like with like.
The City Council should be proud to be in the 4th Quartile as this indicates that we are prioritising education for resources.
BVPI 38 & 39. (RICHARD DODD)
Can you please explain what the LEA are doing about the statement; ‘teachers expectations of what pupils can achieve is a barrier to
improvement’
A number of approaches to raise expectations:
1.
Use of data to show what pupils achieve in other schools, other LEA’s.
2.
Visits to primary schools to observe teaching and to see what pupils achieve there.
3.
“Sharing best practice” i.e. arrange visits to see “lead teacher” in other or own schools, i.e. good practice.
4.
Visit Advanced English and Maths Centres at City Learning Centre to observe best practice.
5.
Use of National Literacy and Numeracy framework at KS3 to explain and show what pupils should achieve in each
year.
6.
Raising expectations via Key Stage 3 strategy, i.e. Demonstration lessons from consultants in all high schools.
7.
Use of world class tests” to show what pupils can achieve.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
BVPI 40 (TERRY STRINGER)
With regards to the para under the heading ‘Barriers to Improvement’,
This is a recruitment issue, what action is proposed?
I referred to the high turnover of headteachers and coordinators - despite this we have recruited heads to all but one primary
school this year. My point was that when a new headteacher starts it takes a while before they have familiarised themselves
with the school's strengths and weaknesses and established their own systems for improving quality. This also applies to
subject coordinators. We run courses and conferences for new and established coordinators which are well attended and
receive very good evaluations. We have established an induction programme for new headteachers to the Authority which
includes visits to other schools and making a link to an experienced headteacher as a mentor.
BVPI 41 (TERRY STRINGER)
Does the LEA have the evidence to substantiate that ‘the improved levels of support provided by Teaching Assistants is having a positive
effect?
Primary school inspector/advisers monitored the implementation of literacy intervention programmes as part of their Spring
visits to schools. The individual records of visit,which are received by governors, report positively on the progress children
are making and the quality of teaching and learning in these groups. Detailed information about pupils' progress is kept at
individual school level. Up to this year the number of teaching assistants in schools has been increasing although this does
vary from one school to another. Teaching assistants now receive more and better training in intervention programmes which
is building their capacity.
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LIFELONG LEARNING AND LEISURE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
ACTION SHEET ARISING FROM THE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SUB GROUP ON THE 30 JUNE 2003.
BVPI 170a (ROBIN CULPIN)
Can you please explain what the following statement means;
‘This BVPI is aimed, largely, at measuring non-visitor research use which, while high, is distorted by American
Citizens believing our publicity’.
Our score on this is enormous, far higher than any other authority. The figure is distorted by the huge number of web hits
from the USA on the Ordsall Hall website which includes a "ghost cam" which we claim to be watching for the Radclyffe
Ghost.
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