Agenda and minutes

1.1Apologies for absence were received from the following Members of the Commission:

-  Cllr Soraya Adejare

-  Ernell Watson

-  Liz Bosanquet

1.2 The Chair welcomed three new representatives from Hackney Youth Parliament who will be members of Commission until the Summer of 2020.  The Chair noted that it was important for the Commission hear the voice of young people throughout its work, and welcomed the opportunity to work with members of the Youth Parliament here on the Commission.

2.1   There were no new or urgent items and the agenda was as published.

2.2  At 21.55pm, under Standing Orders, the Commission agreed to proceed beyond 22.00 to complete scheduled business. 

3.1   The following declarations were received by members:

·  Cllr Peters is a governor at the Garden School.

·  Cllr Chauhan is a teacher at secondary school in another London borough.

4.1 This was the second evidence session held by the Commission, the previous session being held in November 2018 at which a range of alternative education providers attended.  This second session was primarily to hear evidence on those local policy and practices which support children who have been excluded from school and evidence was received from officers at Hackney Learning Trust and Hackney Children & Families Service. 

4.2 To facilitate comparative assessment for this review, a presentation was also received from the Director of Education at Hammersmith & Fulham. A Legal Adviser from Islington Law Centre also attended to discuss legal support and advice and advocacy which is provided to children at risk of exclusion or have been excluded.

4.3 Since the last meeting in January, the Commission have undertaken evidence gathering through a number of site visits and focus groups with local stakeholders.  Given the time constraints on the meeting, it was agreed to report these back at the next meeting in February.

Hackney Learning Trust

4.4 Officers presented a summary of the reports which had been submitted for this item. It was noted that reports submitted to the Commission recognised the seriousness of school exclusions and provided evidence on the work local schools and the HLT had undertaken to reduce these.  Although exclusion affects a small but significant number of young people, the Commission noted that any decision to exclude is never taken lightly because of the impact that it has on that young person and their family.  The Commission understood that such decisions were taken as a last resort and where the student continued to pose a challenge to the point where they could no longer be supported in that school.

4.5 The Commission understood that the ability of the local authority to directly influence exclusion policy and practice in local schools was limited, but that the HLT works with schools to encourage them to adopt a more inclusive approach.  Given the pivotal role of Head teachers and local governors in the school exclusion process, the HLT has sought to engage and involve these key stakeholders and to develop positive and informative relationships, and ultimately to help guide and inform their approach taken to exclusions. 

4.6 The HLT had recently published a strategy and action plan to help reduce school exclusions.  This has sets out the local priorities to reduce exclusions and how the HLT and its partners will work together to achieve these.  The Exclusions Board, which is made up of a wide range of local stakeholders (including local schools), will oversee and monitor this exclusion strategy.

4.7  In respect of the outcomes of excluded children, the Commission noted that data has been provided from New Regents College (Hackney Pupil Referral Unit) which was included in the report pack.  This data suggests that most of the young people in alternative provision in Hackney go onto further education or training and very few fall through the net.

4.8  The Commission noted it was important that work to reduce exclusions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.1  Under scrutiny protocol, the relevant Cabinet member is required to attend the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Commission each year to respond to questions on services within this portfolio.  Three topic areas were selected by the Commission for the Cabinet member to respond, these were:

·  Hackney Schools Group;

·  Young Futures Commission;

·  Education Funding.

Hackney Schools Group

5.2  In response to an evolving school landscape which is now much more diverse, the Council has put forward a plan to develop a Hackney Schools Group.  The purpose of this group was to:

·  Support a collaborative approach among schools;

·  Develop a shared approach to leadership and oversight;

·  Guide and support the improvement offer of the Council;

5.3  A new local schools board would be established and this would be the forum through which to provide the central focus for the local strategy to drive local school improvement.  The board would also be a centre point for identifying and supporting local educational research and the dissemination of good practice.

5.4  The Commission understood that there were no legal barriers to the establishment of Hackney Schools Group as the board would be set up in an advisory capacity and would not have any delegated powers.  The board would however seek to influence local provision through its collaborative and collective approach. There were financial implications for establishment of the Hackney schools Group, most notably the appointment of an independent chair to lead the board, who will be paid a salary of up to £10k p.a.  All other costs would be met within existing budgets of the HLT.

5.5  An extensive piece of work was undertaken to engage and involve local schools to ensure that there were aware of the Hackney Schools Group (HSG) and support their participation. This process led to positive feedback around the concept of HSG, though also highlighted the need for further reassurance that this development would not diminish their autonomy.  All stakeholders had been involved in this consultation including heads, governors and the wider public and this consultation was ongoing.

5.6  The hackney schools group would align itself closely with the Mayor’s manifesto commitments for school improvement and work closely with schools to share good practice and learning in promoting inclusion and for fair access.  There would be a sub-group to the board which would focus on early help and support to the most vulnerable and in-need children.  The collaborative approach of the group would be able to provide a more collective and holistic response to this pressing issue.

5.7  In terms of the time line for establishment, further consultation was planned between November 2018 and February 2019 to check and challenge current proposals with key stakeholders, including head teachers.  Final proposals would be taken to local councillors prior to final approval by Cabinet in spring 2019.  It was hoped that by June 2019, the Chair and the Board would be established for a September 2019 launch.

5.8  In terms of parental involvement in the new group, it was noted that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.1   The Commission noted the following actions:

·  A response had been received in lieu of reciprocal arrangements between police and community organisations for notification of drug paraphernalia. This will be forwarded to members;

·  It has been confirmed that Children and Families Service submitted a bid to the Supporting Families Against Youth Crime on 7^th December.  The outcome of this bid should be known by the end of January 2019.

·  Members were consulted for future site visits to assist the Commissions review into outcomes of school exclusions;

·  Chair and Officer to attend a future meeting of the Hackney Independent Forum for Parents on 17^th January 2019.

6.2  The Commission agreed the minutes of the last meeting.

7.1   It was agreed that a report back of site visits would take place at the next meeting in February.

7.2  The deep-dive analysis of exclusions would be requested and circulated to members of the commission.

7.3  The Members of the Commission noted the current work programme for the municipal year 2018/19.

7.4  A number of site visits were planned for January and February 2019 to assist the review process.

8.1  There was no other business.

  The meeting closed at 10.20pm.