NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

21 MAY 2025

STATEMENT OF EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR EDUCATION, LEARNING AND SKILLS

Schools

Ofsted performance

• In the period 1 September 2024 to 28 February 2025 there have been 40 published inspections of state-funded North Yorkshire schools. Of these, 30 were primary schools, seven secondary schools, one pupil referral unit and two nursery schools.

• Of the 40 published inspections, 23 were Section 5 graded inspections, 17 were Section 8 ungraded inspections.

• The table shows the outcome of the 23 graded inspections across the four inspection areas for the North Yorkshire schools inspected between 1 September 2024 and 28 February 2025

• Safeguarding has continued to be judged effective in all schools and academies during this period. This continues the positive trend previously reported.

Early Years

Capital Grant Projects

• Two DfE-funded capital projects are now complete: Buttercups Nursery and Rosedene Nursery.
• Rosedene Nursery’s expansion was officially opened by Sir Stuart Carlton in April 2025.

Early Years Expansion (for Sept 2025)

• Progress continues toward offering up to 30 hours of funded childcare for children of working parents from 9 months old. Applications are now open to parents.

Wraparound Childcare Provision (FY ending 31 March 2025)

• 83 applications (covering 87 schools) were received for revenue grant funding.
• 1,610 places have been newly created or provision has been expanded since the programme began, including 304 new places since February this year.
• £1.23 million in revenue funding has been allocated.
• There are eight additional applications under review for this financial year.

Monitoring and Planning

• The North Yorkshire Delivery Plan has been updated and approved by DfE.
• It identifies a need for 1,833 more places this year and we are awaiting funding confirmation.

School-Based Nursery Provision

• St George’s Catholic Academy (Scarborough): there are10 new places for 2-year-olds.
• Coppice Valley School (Harrogate): Expansion for 3- and 4-year-olds from Sept 2026.

Early Adopters School Breakfast Club Scheme

• 18 schools were selected (one special, five academies, 12 LA maintained).
• Each school receives DfE-led peer support alongside guidance from the LA.

Ofsted Inspections of early years providers since February 2025

• 15 inspections have taken place and been published; this includes two Outstanding, ten Good, two Requires Improvement and one Inadequate outcome.

School Admissions

All applications received for new school places to start in September 2025 have now been processed, and offers were issued on the respective national offer days which were 3 March (secondary) and 16 April (primary).

90% of applicants for a place at a secondary school and 95% of applicants for a place at primary school received an offer in respect of their first preference school.

Home to School Travel

All pupils who have been offered a school place are now being assessed to determine their eligibility for assistance with Home to School Travel.

Confirmation will be sent to all parents as to whether or not their child is eligible by 30 May (secondary) and 30 June (primary) at the latest.

School Closures

Executive confirmed the closure of Hackforth and Hornby CofE VC Primary on 18 March, and the school will close with effect from 31 August 2025.

Secretary of State has confirmed the decision to close Kirkby Fleetham Primary School, and Holy Family Catholic High School (both academies) with effect from 31 August 2025.

The Council is helping parents and carers of displaced children from all three schools to secure alternative school places for their children.

School Condition

DfE have announced a capital allocation of £7.446 million for school condition works in community and VC schools.  The Executive will consider proposals for the schools’ capital programme at its meeting on 17 June.

Outdoor Learning Service

Building Works – Bewerley Park

· Construction is progressing well, with completion expected by early July 2025.

· Despite some weather-related delays, key milestones have been met.

· An open event is planned post-completion to showcase the development.

Service Delivery

• Residential bookings have significantly increased for the period April – July 2025 compared to the same period last year: almost 5500 bed nights (April – July 2025) compared to 3700 in the previous year.

New Programmes

• Over Easter 2025, three new youth activity courses were launched: sailing, canoeing and climbing.
• A family canoe day was also introduced.

Educational Visits Advisory Service

• The team continue to deliver high-quality support and receive excellent feedback.
• New training includes ‘Managing Visit Emergencies’
• They have recently expanded to support a 35-school Multi-Academy Trust.

Adult Learning and Skills

Tailored Learning

• Enrolments have increased compared to the same time last academic year (2,500 from 2000) this builds on increases seen in the previous year.

Adult Skills (Qualifications):

· Showing positive growth with a 10% increase in enrolments (940 from 850) over the same period.

Funding and Opportunities

· Successful collaboration with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Local Skills Improvement Fund is enabling responsiveness to new grant opportunities, with significant work already underway.

Personalised Learner College

· Current enrolment is 205, following an increase in young people with EHCPs. Plans are in place to promote the college further, with a focus on managing the growth.

Let’s Talk Skills Survey

· A county-wide survey open until June 2025, gathering resident views on skills access, awareness, and barriers. Outcomes from the survey will inform the new strategic plan for the service.

Music Service

Positive Recognition

· The Music Service has continued to receive positive feedback from the Arts Council.

VE Day Concert Success

· On 3^rd April, a VE Day commemoration concert featured over 350 children from nine schools and the County Youth Orchestra, joined by the Band of the Grenadier Guards for workshops and performance in Harrogate.

Summer Concerts

· Multiple concerts are scheduled this term across all six music centres.

Financial and Participation Growth

· The service achieved a small surplus this year, as pupil numbers continue to increase.

Skills Activity

· Skills programmes form part of year 4 of the Shared Prosperity Fund administered by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA).  This will be primarily through the continuation of the North Yorkshire Council delivered Multiply Programme and a £2.25million contract to deliver the Rise to Thrive Programme (supporting economically inactive individuals back to work).  This is a continuation of activity in years 1-3.  Procurement is due to close soon for providers.

· North Yorkshire Council staff have supported the YNYCA with the design and assessments of applications to the £2.5m Skills Innovation Fund that is part of the Mayor’s Investment Fund programme.  Allocations to this are about to be announced. 

· There have been discussions between our Regeneration services and Coventry University Scarborough colleagues to discuss opportunities for supporting the university’s ambition and future development. Joint working opportunities discussed included developing the cyber security partnership and raising the profile and opportunities of Coventry University at Scarborough across the region.

· Teesside University have visited BNY Hub in Northallerton to discuss what programmes they can offer to support North Yorkshire residents and businesses.

· A series of skills training for businesses will be offered during NY Business Week commencing 16 June 2025.

Schools Budgets

Members will be aware of the budget pressures being faced by schools across the country including from pay and price pressures. In line with that national pressure, schools in North Yorkshire are also faced with the challenge of delivering a broad and balanced curriculum, an inclusive education, whilst delivering a financially sustainable position. We will continue to work with LA maintained schools to achieve financial sustainability and we will also continue to lobby central government to ensure that schools in North Yorkshire receive a fair funding deal.

COUNCILLOR ANNABEL WILKINSON