Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Edgar and Locke and from Ian Potter. Councillor Bolton was in attendance as the Conservative substitute member.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 20 March 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

There were no deputations.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The newly appointed Chairman and the Panel Members recorded their gratitude to Councillor Peter Edgar and acknowledged his time as Chairman and the significant contribution he had made.

To receive a report and presentation of the Director of Children’s Services and to review two case studies regarding the educational performance of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Panel received the presentation from the Director of Children’s Services regarding the educational performance of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and reviewed two case studies from local Headteachers who also attended to deliver presentations.

Members were informed of the Department for Education’s definition of the disadvantaged category and some of the typical challenges faced by learners who fell within this category. The Panel also reviewed some statistics for Hampshire regarding the educational performance, by Key Stage, of learners from within the disadvantaged category and how Hampshire statistics compared to national figures. Influential factors were discussed in detail, such as the impact of cultural and social aspects and home and family environment. Further discussion was held regarding the interventions and support which both the schools and the County Council had implemented to promote inclusion and improved outcomes for learners from within the disadvantaged category.

Specifically, in response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that high quality teaching and learning, not necessarily reductions in class size, would have a significant positive impact for learners. This incorporated all aspects of teaching and learning, from the initial planning stage, to interactions within the classroom setting, through to monitoring and evaluating learning outcomes and providing valuable and meaningful feedback to learners to enable both their holistic and educational development.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel notes the content of the presentation.