Agenda item

Consideration was given to a report of the Head of Learning Service which provided a summary of the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Education Task and Finish Group on disadvantage and provided an update of the work of the Opportunity Area to influence social mobility for disadvantaged children and young people. Members noted that there was a specific education definition of “disadvantaged”.

The Board was updated on the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Education Task and Finish Group in relation to disadvantage. The Overview & Scrutiny Education Task and Finish Group was interested in local strategies on to reduce disadvantage and the use of the related Pupil Premium. They sought to gain an insight into the associated challenges and opportunities faced by schools and academies, and to consider how the Group could assist. Two

meetings had taken place with a selection of head teachers, officers and elected member representatives.

On 20th September, 2017 a round table discussion had taken place on the theme of ‘how to support social mobility and the attainment and wider achievement of disadvantaged children & young people in Oldham’. The elected members present were keen to support the schools, academies and the local authority in whatever way possible to help support the outcome.

On 21st November, 2018 the Overview & Scrutiny Education Task and Finish

Group met again to examine developments in the education of children and young people who were disadvantaged in the borough. At a meeting at the Oldham Sixth Form College, officers presented evidence relating to 2018 educational outcomes and the challenge for 2019 & 2020. This included SEND, the Opportunity Area and its focus on disadvantage. The ensuing discussion reflected on the improvements to provision since the previous meeting and it was agreed that a summary of the work reviewed on the day, including Opportunity Area support, should be presented to the Overview & Scrutiny Board.

The Board was also updated on Opportunity Area Support. In autumn 2017 the Department for Education (DfE) identified Oldham as one of twelve Opportunity Areas. Oldham was chosen because the data indicated that

children in the borough are less likely to have access to high quality education, employment opportunities and support when they need it than children from similar backgrounds, elsewhere.

The Board noted the Opportunity Area programme was a key part of the governmental priority of tackling social mobility and improving opportunities for young people in areas with both poor social mobility and schools that face challenges. The Oldham Opportunity Area was a collaborative venture by national and local government, education leaders and teachers, voluntary organisations and employers, to give children and young people across the borough the opportunities and support they deserved. It directed additional resources towards the borough over a 3 year period from 2018-2020.

Three priorities had been agreed and the Board was updated with progress against each of them. Programmes had been designed to strengthen the capacity of the local educational system across each of the 3 priority areas and it was anticipated that these priorities, which were designed to increase social mobility, would continue to be important beyond the life span of the Opportunity Area in 2020. It was recommended that the Overview & Scrutiny Education Task and Finish Group maintained their interest in supporting social mobility by seeking an update on progress in 12 months’ time.

Members asked for and received clarification on the following:-

·       The definition of “disadvantaged” – this was an education definition and there were many children that did not fit this narrow definition. The Council recognised that poverty affected education and work was being undertaken o identify the impact and how best to address this issue.

·       Voluntary schemes to assist young carers outside of the classroom – it was understand that the social lives of young carers could be affected. Programmes were being considered and schools had a toolkit to help them understand the difficulties faced by young carers.

·       Alteration of admissions criteria to enable young carers to have priority access to nearby schools – this could be considered.

·       Links with the Youth Council – there were many links, especially in relation to the Opportunity Area. The Youth Council was one of the most active in the country and a credit to Oldham.

·       Sustainability when the finding ceased – Strategies were in place and data and intelligence was being gathered to inform a future debate about funding. 

 RESOLVED that:

1.     The report be noted.

2.     That an update be provided in 12 months’ time on the educational impact of the work being carried out by the Education, Skills and Early Years Service, supported by Opportunity Area funding, to improve social mobility across the community.

3.     Progress and strategies for going forward would be discussed at the Task and Finish group in autumn.