NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
22 and 24 February 2023
STATEMENT OF EDUCATION & SKILLS PORTFOLIO HOLDER
Council Statement – Schools November 2022
The local authority has consulted with all mainstream schools and academies in the Autumn Term over school funding arrangements for 2023/24 and the results of that consultation will be discussed with the North Yorkshire Schools Forum. In line with national trends, schools have experienced in-year financial pressures particularly in relation to pay and energy costs and we will be assessing the aggregate impact on LA maintained schools as part of the mid-year update. We continue to work with schools that are facing financial difficulty through support, challenge and where necessary, intervention.
Development of the SEND Strategic Plan for Education Provision
The current Plan comes to an end in September 23 and initial engagement is now underway with all key stakeholders to ensure their views are considered in terms of priority areas for development/ transformation in educational provision for SEND across early years, schools, Alternative Provision, and post 16 provision over the next 3 years.
This Plan is complementary to the Local Area SEND Strategy and will include a focus on early years, schools and post 16 settings across universal, targeted and specialist provision.
School Improvement
The county saw a number of inspections across the autumn term, including 17 schools and academies moving to or maintaining ‘Good’ Ofsted outcomes and one school judged to be taking effective action against the removal of special measures. Two maintained schools and three academies were judged to be ‘Requires Improvement’, this included two that have improved from their previous judgements of inadequate. All schools were found to have effective safeguarding arrangements.
Music service
In September 2024 the new National Plan for Music Education will start. A bidding process for the next round of Arts Council funding will take place sometime in the summer term, although details have not yet been released.
The service’s Arts Council feedback letter for academic year 2021/22 was positive. The service increased activity with primary schools, particularly around whole class instrumental delivery. They continue to develop this work and have maintained numbers this academic year. Overall, their work with schools across all areas of the National Plan for Music is higher than the national average. Arts Council rate Music Hubs using a risk register. There are three categories, and the county music service remains in the lowest category of risk, meaning they continue to offer an excellent level of service to our learners, schools and parents.
Adult Learning Service
The service was inspected by Ofsted earlier in the month. The team of eight different inspectors visited the service over four days and evaluated the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes of learners, personal development and leadership and management of the service.
They will also make judgements on each major type of provision offered. The report will be published in the next few weeks.
Outdoor learning service
The outdoor learning service continues to welcome hundreds of children to the two centres at Bewerley Park and East Barnby. Numbers of children enjoying the residential offer are larger this year than in the most recent pre-pandemic period (2019-20) and schools are also arranging education visits that provide children with a range of cultural enrichment activities away from their school classrooms.
Admissions
We are working towards the National Offer dates for secondary (1st March) and primary (17th April) admissions and further updates of note will be provided at the next council meeting.
Hovingham CE VC Primary School
On 18 October 2022 the Executive Member gave approval to the Governing Board’s request for a consultation on the future of Hovingham CE VC Primary School.
On 24 January 2023 the Executive considered the consultation responses and agreed publication of the statutory proposal. It remains the case that there are no pupils in school.
The current representation period ends on 3 March 2023 and the Executive are scheduled to make a final determination on 21 March 2023.
If approved the School would close with effect from 31 March 2023.
Skelton Newby Hall CE Primary School
On 13 December 2022 the Executive Member gave approval to the Governing Board’s request for a consultation on the future of Skelton Newby Hall CE Primary School.
The consultation period is live until 24 February 2023 and the Executive are due to review the consultation on 21 March 2023.
If at the end of the process closure is approved, then the school would close on 31 August 2023.
Whitby Secondary
On 7 February 2023 the Executive Member gave approval to the Governing Board’s request for a consultation on amalgamation of secondary provision in Whitby, involving the technical closure of Eskdale School from September 2024. The consultation period is scheduled to run from 20 February to 31 March 2023.
COUNTY COUNCILLOR ANNABEL WILKINSON