Issue - meetings

          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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28