Progress in the Region

Yorkshire Futures released their Annual Report on regional development. It shows that on many areas the gap between the region and the English average has widened in the last year and that even if indicators are improving this is not as fast as the English average.
Key points:
• There is a slow in progress for many indicators – this could be due to consolidation or a tail off
• Improvements in employment, education and some environmental indicators
• But problems with high level skills (level 4+); transport, obesity; innovation; housing; violent crime; climate change and equalities.

Poverty and Education Equality

Child poverty action group produced a useful summary of the main issues and some key facts for different stages of children’s development.

Importance of out of school activity

Joseph Rowntree Foundation report found:

·         Access to out of school activity should be open to all and not to explicitly focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

·         Children exercising choice over attendance and the attitude that adults also chose to attend are key contributors to success.

·         Adults are seen as co-learners and the learning is “authentic”.

 

School workforce

Research from the TDA found that:

·         There has been a slight decline in the no. of teachers in the past year

·         In the previous four years there has been a 10% increase in the number of secondary teachers despite stable pupil numbers

·         Those teaching ICT and RE are most likely to have no qualification in that subject

·         Support staff have increased by 62% since 2001

·         Teaching assistants are most prevalent in primary schools and PRUs. In secondary schools admin staff are almost as prevalent as TAs.

·         Information re: BME mix

Pupils	Ethnicity	Teachers	Trainee teachers
82%	White	94.6%	83.8%
7.7%	Asian	2.4%	5.0%
3.2%	Mixed	0.7%	1.7%
4.1%	Black	1.7%	3.0%

·         Y&H has the second highest number of primary school teacher vacancies (outside London) (as a % of teachers in post). In secondary schools the picture is not as bad.

 

GCSE Results for Yorkshire & Humber

Yorkshire and Humber again comes lowest in the GCSE average scores for England. Y&H has an average of 56.9% of those finishing KS4 with at least 5 A*-C (only inner London received a lower average score). The average for England (all schools) was 61.5%.
These scores will become more important as the prime-minister hopes to close or replace schools with an average score of less than 30% 5 A*-C grades.
Looking nationally York is the best performing LA (12th with 67.4%) and North Yorkshire (23rd with 65.6%). At the other end NE Lincs. and Hull are 139th and 140th respectively (51.2%, 50.6%)

Yorkshire Forward commissioned research into why the region under performs at GCSE level:
• Only 7% of the variance in KS4 attainment can be accounted for by school level issues.
• Students own perception of the labour market chances impact on their own attainment.
• Attainment is strongly linked to the social segregation in schools (better social mix in schools assists greater attainment).
• Success at KS2 English is a key factor as it ensures effective communication skills needed for success at KS4.

Raising of participation age

As expected the Queen's speech had a bill about raising the participation age to 18yrs by 2015, so that young people Not in Education Employment or Training (NEETs) will effectively be eradicated. Ed Balls set out the four building blocks towards this goal

• Curriculum reform including the new diplomas
• Clear responsibilities for the LA to provide Information Advice and Guidance to young people
• A range of financial supportive measures (extension of the Education Maintenance Allowance, amendments to the New Deal etc.)
• Support for work based training and the creation of apprenticeships

Nursery provision

DCFS is extending free nursery provision for all 3 and 4 year olds to 15hrs per week, by 2010 (currently the offer is 12.5hrs per week). Nationally 20 LAs already offer the 15hrs provision (including Leeds, Sheffield and York). A further 14 (including Kirklees and NE Lincs) will offer this provision as from 2008. The remaining authorities will have to deliver this extended provision to the most disadvantaged families by 2009 and offer full coverage by 2010.

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