Agenda item

This report sets out the response to an issue raised by Councillor Johnson regarding Medway University Technical College.

Discussion:

Councillor Johnson introduced the report, explaining his reasons for requesting the item.  He referred to the school’s recent Ofsted inspection report, which had found the school to be inadequate.  He referred to the structural set up of UTCs generally and the difficulty experienced nationally in UTCs recruiting students at Year 10.  He also stated how important the UTC was to Medway in developing vital skills that were needed by Medway’s community and for the local economy.  He raised concern around Medway Council’s role as a partner to the school and how it can improve the support it provides to the school.

The Interim Head of School Services then highlighted to the Committee the progress made by the school since the Ofsted inspection in March 2018 and the change in leadership at the school, which together with input from the Department for Education (where responsibility for monitoring and supporting UTCs lay) was having a positive impact. 

Members then raised a number of comments and questions, which included: -

·         Support for Governors – in response to a question about the support governors would be provided with, officers explained that the report focussed on the support for the local authority governor at the school, in responding to the questions raised by Councillor Johnson in the report.  However all Governors would be supported by the School and the Committee would have the opportunity to discuss support for all governors with the Principal at a future meeting.

·         Admission zones – a Member asked for specific numbers of pupils accessing the school by area zone, which was referred to at page 27 of the agenda.  Officers undertook to provide this information to the Committee.

·         Impact on young people – the Medway Youth Council Chairman referred to the 2017 results (24 % of students achieved a grade 4 and above with 10% achieving grade 5 and above) and whether support would be provided and data collected to measure the impact on these young people.  In response the Interim Head of School Services confirmed that a significant amount of support was being provided to young people and the Principal had demonstrated his support and commitment to young people when officers had visited the school.  He added that the Principal would be able to expand on this further when he attends a future meeting of the Committee.

·         Role of local authority – in response to a comment about the limited scope of the local authority to address the issues, the Director of Children and Adults explained that previously a letter had been sent to all parents of Year 9 pupils making them aware of Medway UTC and what it has to offer and that the letter would be sent again this year.  A Member then suggested that the local authority could go further and target parents while their children are younger, for example in Year 6, to road map a path for young people in terms of the journey in getting to the UTC for Year 10, for those children interested in this route.  Officers confirmed that Year 7 and Year 9 were key transition points and that together with the Principal, options around publicising the UTC would be considered.  The relationship between the UTC and other secondary schools would also be raised with the Medway Secondary Head Teacher Association.

Decision:

The Committee noted the report.