Agenda and minutes

Background:

This report requested approval by the Leader of the Council, under urgency provisions, to amend the review process for the Medway Test which would result in a fairer process.

The report explained that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, pupils had received less time in face-to-face education and would have learnt at differing levels and pace. Therefore, officers had strived to take measures to make the test as fair to all pupils as possible.

The report stated that one area where changes were proposed was in relation to the subject matter used as evidence as part of the Medway Test review process. The topics of work currently scrutinised during the academic review process could be seen as restrictive and therefore in consultation with Headteachers, it was recommended that the additional subjects of humanities/topic work and reading be included as evidence used during the review process. The report stated that this would provide the review panel with a broader overview of a pupil’s ability and provide a fairer, more open and comprehensive process.

The report noted that the urgency provisions were set out in the Constitution (paragraph 3.2 of Part 3 (Responsibility for Cabinet functions) of Chapter 3 (Responsibility for Functions) of the Constitution).

The Chairman of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed that the taking of these decisions was urgent and could not be reasonably deferred until the next Cabinet meeting on 8 June 2021, in accordance with Section 11 (Cases of special urgency) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 and Rule 17 (Special Urgency) of the Access to Information Rules (Part 2 of Chapter 4 in the Constitution).

Additionally, and in line with rule 15.11 of Chapter 4, Part 5 of the Constitution, call-in could be waived where any delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the Public’s interests. The Chairman of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed that the decisions proposed were reasonable in all the circumstances and to them being treated as a matter of urgency and to waive call-in.

Decision:

Reasons:

Given the ongoing disruption to education since March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic it is reasonable to make changes to the Medway Test review process.