The Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee met to receive an update on educational outcomes for children in Milton Keynes. They also reviewed work on early years education, the challenges being created by falling pupil numbers in some schools, and considered the committee's work programme.

Education Outcomes Update

This item provided the committee with an update on education in Milton Keynes, with a particular focus on Ofsted outcomes and the work of the School Improvement Team.

The report showed that 95% of schools in Milton Keynes are now rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. The report explained that Of the five schools that were judged to be less than good when single word judgements applied, four are academies and one is a local authority-maintained school. ¹

The report also outlined the support and challenge that the Milton Keynes City Council School Improvement Team provide to schools. In particular, "To promote high standards, act as champions of high quality, and fulfil statutory school improvement duties in maintained schools, LA officers provide the following:

• Desk top analysis of school performance data (academic outcomes)
• Annual Evaluations
• School Performance Boards (SPBs) - where needed
• Bespoke traded consultancy
• Head Teacher Performance Management
• Senior Leader Recruitment
• Safeguarding audits
• Quadrant Meetings
• Headteacher briefings (up until Summer 2024)
• Meetings with leaders of maintained schools (from summer 2024)
• Meetings with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Multi Academy Trusts (from summer 2024)
• Meetings with chairs of governing and trust boards
• Meetings with Milton Keynes Secondary Heads and Milton Keynes Special School Heads
• Heads Up – e-newsletter for schools
• Early Years Essentials – e-newsletter
• Team working with MKCC finance, health and safety, human resources, place planning and children’s social care teams."

The report concluded by outlining the future direction of the School Improvement Team. Specifically, from April 2025, core school improvement activity will be funded through a per-pupil levy on all maintained schools.

The committee were asked to note the report and provide feedback or recommendations.

Early Years Targeted Work

This report outlined the targeted early years work undertaken by Milton Keynes City Council.

The report highlighted the following areas of work:

• Ensuring a sufficient number of early years places are available in Milton Keynes.
• Increasing the number of disadvantaged 2-year-olds accessing funded early years education.
• Providing support and challenge for providers due an Ofsted inspection.
• Providing post-Ofsted inspection support.
• Providing additional, bespoke support for providers.
• A joint support approach with the Ethnic Minorities Achievement Network.
• A joint support approach with the Special Education Needs and Disabilities Team.
• Supporting providers in receipt of Deprivation Funding.
• Rattlebox – a joint approach with the MK Music Service.
• Joint work with the MKCC sufficiency team.
• Communication with providers through the Early Years Essential (EYE) e-newsletter.

The committee were asked to note the report and to offer any feedback or recommendations.

Place Planning - Including falling PAN, and Planning in New Developments

This report reviewed the challenges and opportunities associated with falling pupil numbers in some Milton Keynes primary schools, and the impact of new housing developments.

It reported that Following the recession in 2008/9 there was a significant rise in birth rates within the established areas of Milton Keynes... However, since 2014/15, the birth rate within established areas of Milton Keynes has been declining. We are now experiencing 700 fewer births in Milton Keynes when compared with 2014 figures (the equivalent of over 23 classes), which has led to a surplus of school places within these areas for some schools .

The report highlighted that Milton Keynes has a strong track record of accurately forecasting demand for school places, and ensuring that these places are available in the right locations. It also provided information on how Milton Keynes City Council is supporting schools with falling pupil numbers.

The report included the following points:

• The number of places removed at the point of entry from schools, by permanently reducing the Published Admissions Number, was 662.
• The number of in-year places currently removed from year groups across the primary phase (Reception to Year 6), using temporary Published Admissions Number caps, is 1498.

The committee were asked to note the report and offer any feedback or recommendations.

2024/25 Work Programme

The committee noted their current Work Programme, which included an update on the outcomes of the discussion at the meeting in September on the recommendations from the Child Poverty Task and Finish Group. They were invited to suggest further topics for inclusion in the work programme.