PROJECT DEFINITION STATEMENT
Project Name
Project Ref
Secondary School
Attendance Scrutiny
Task Group
Alastair Round
TG36
Project Sponsor
Cllr Nicholson
Project
Manager
Submitted On
v.1
December 2006
PDS Version
Final
PDS Status
End Date
26 September 2006
April 2007
Start Date
1
Background to the Project
As part of their priority setting process the Education and Children’s Services
Overview and Scrutiny Committee decided to make School Attendance one of the
priority topics for the Municipal Year 2006-7.
Improving school attendance is one of the 17 key aims of the Borough’s Children
and Young People’s Plan. (Key priority 6 on p.48 of Children and Young People’s
Plan). Current figures for 2005-6 are significantly above the targets under the Local
Public Service Agreement to be reached by 2007-8. (Actual 05/06: Primary 5.1%
Secondary 8.4% Special 8.1%; 2007/8 LPSA secondary absence 7%, primary 4%,
and special 6%)
2
Project Objectives
No. Objective
Description
1
To understand the main reasons
for absence, particularly
unauthorised absence in
secondary schools.
2
To encourage a Borough debate
amongst parents, teachers and
governors about the impact of nonattendance.
3
To draw together some examples
of national and local best practice
in tackling low school attendance
with particular focus on secondary
schools.
4
To encourage debate regarding
the distinction between truancy
and unauthorised absence.
3
Project Deliverables
No. Deliverable
Comment
1
Survey of Governors’ views on
Template questionnaires from other
attendance/acceptability of
authorities will be sought.
authorised absence.
2
Focus groups with parents
Possibly from the three schools with the
highest rates of absence: HCC, Shene
and Whitton
1/3
PROJECT DEFINITION STATEMENT
Project Name
3
4
No
1
2
3
4
Project Ref
Secondary School
TG36
Attendance Scrutiny
Task Group
Short final report with results of
survey, focus groups and best
practice research and any
recommendations.
Project Benefits
Benefit
Performance
Saving
Measure
Greater public and
governor
understanding of the
issue.
Publicity for the issue No. of press
of attendance and
articles.
unauthorised absence
Greater Member
Short survey of
understanding of the
members.
issue.
Ultimately lower
absence figures for
the Borough.
5
Project Scope
This Project will include
General examination of key factors and
target groups of pupils
6
Project Constraints
Constraint
Time
Officer support from within
Democratic Services
Budget
There will be a
significant
gain if the
Borough
achieves its
LPSA targets.
This Project will not include
Any significant study of factors such as
bullying.
Any significant study of primary or
special school absence.
Type
Staffing
Financial
2/3
Financial
Benefit
Description
Review needs to be completed
before the end of the Municipal
Year.
Democratic Services is
currently understaffed.
There is a Scrutiny budget
available. Its use needs to be
discussed with the Principal
Committee Manager and the
O&S Co-ordinating Group.
PROJECT DEFINITION STATEMENT
Project Name
Project Ref
Secondary School
TG36
Attendance Scrutiny
Task Group
7
Project Roles
Contact
Role
Cllr Bob King
Chair of Task Group
Cllr Geoff Acton
Task Group Member
Mark Williams
Task Group Member
Alastair Round
Scrutiny Support Officer
Warren Wilkinson
LEA Adviser
Cllr Nicholson
Review Sponsor
8
Stakeholders
Stakeholder Contact
Stakeholder Organisation
Borough Children’s Services
Secondary and primary schools in the
Borough
Parents
Governors
Press
Cllr Malcolm Eady
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
and Education
Cllr Sally Cole
Assistant Cabinet Member for Schools
Business Consultancy Unit
9
Initial Estimates of Cost, Time and Staff Resources
Time (Duration of Project)
Until April 2007
10 Funding Sources
Funding
Identifier
Budget
Year End
Cost Code
Source
Scrutiny
Budget
3/3