Agenda item

          The Board considered a presentation on the performance outcomes for schools across Halton at the end of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and Key Stages 2, 4 and 5. In the accompanying presentation it was noted that:

• There were no progress measures for the primary stage or transition stage due to Covid-19 as the current Year 7’s did not sit exams in Year 2 and the current Year 11’s did not sit exams in Year 6.
• Halton has a higher percentage of EHCP, SEND, and children that the national average based on DfE measures.
• Early Year profiles which are done at the end of reception, increased in ‘good level of development’ nationally and in Halton to 68% and 62% respectively.
• The performance of SEND children and children with EHCPs decreased but children who received free school meals improved in their academic performance and were above the national average.
• 76% of pupils passed their phonics exam in Year 1 compared to 80% nationally.
• 69% of children listed as ‘most vulnerable’ achieved their expected standard compared to 67% nationally.
• Halton has matched the national average in reading, writing and maths as a combined score but were below the national average at ‘greater depth’.
• More ‘disadvantaged children’ in Halton scored 2% higher that the national average in reading, writing and maths.
• In 2025, Halton pupils with EHCP pupils out preformed the national average for EHCP pupils. 
• For GCSEs, if a pupil achieved a ‘4’ then this was considered a ‘low pass’. Grade 5 was considered a ‘high pass’.
• Halton’s Key Stage 4 results were not as good as its Key Stage 2 results, and they were below the national average but there was visible improvement ‘at pace’ after a drop the previous year.
• In terms of ‘Level 8’ attainment for GCSE results, this had improved so Halton was closing the gap with the national average.
• The ‘high pass’ and ‘low pass’ for GCSEs in Halton were above pre-pandemic levels this year. The national average for the ‘low pass’ had dropped.
• English and maths results were at pre-pandemic performance levels.
• There was a low number of pupils in Halton undertaking the English Baccalaureate but those who did take it preformed very well.
• EHCP pupils in Key Stage 4 had achieved close to the national average in their results.
• The Alternative Provision Strategy will help more disadvantaged children in mainstream schools.
• Three new early intervention officers have been recruited, and they will do collaborative working between headteacher groups.

          The following additional information was provided in response to Member’s questions:

• The national average attainment performance for children who received free school meals was 51.2% whereas it was 51.7% in Halton.
• Targeted support and early identification of pupil need helped more disadvantaged children improve their academic results.
• Officers plan to hold annual ‘keep in touch’ meetings with schools to continue exam result improvements.
• Officers will look at getting more finances for schools who had more ‘vulnerable’ children.
• External support advisors were effective for schools in order to help them support their more vulnerable children.
• Early intervention officers go into nurseries and visit childminders to see children. There is no statutory duty for children to attend nurseries but were officers looking at links between educational attainment, safeguarding and non-attendance. Early years are looking into this.
• Officers will bring a presentation on the Cradle to Career Project to January’s meeting.
• It was unknown why the English Baccalaureate numbers were low but it was predicted that it was because pupils did not often like obtaining a qualification not in English.

          RESOLVED: That the report be noted.