Subject Education Achievement Services (EAS), Contribution

Part 1
Sept 24th 2014
Item No.
Subject
Education Achievement Services (EAS), Contribution
Financial Year 2013/14
Purpose
Members to note the financial contribution to the EAS for financial year
2013/14 and the progression towards identifying value for money
Author
Geraint Willington, Business Manager, EAS
Ward
All
Summary Newport City Council makes an annual contribution to the commissioning of
the EAS regional School Improvement Service). This paper describes the
financial contribution which the Council has made and the level of support
which the EAS has provided to Newport over the financial year 13/14. The
paper also sets out the new plans to identify value for money linked to EAS
outcomes.
Proposal
.
1.To acknowledge the position regarding Newport City Councils financial
contribution in relation to the level of service received
2. To acknowledge future plans to demonstrate value for money through
monitoring outcomes.
3. To consider any issues arising that the Committee may wish to draw to
the attention of the Cabinet Member.
Action by South East Wales Education Achievement Service
Timetable Immediate
This report was prepared after consultation with:
•
•
•
•
Signed:
James Harris, Chief Education Officer
Steve Davies, Managing Director EAS
Mike Fisher, Head of Finance
Sarah Morgan, Assistant Head of Education
Background
The EAS was established in Sept 2012 as a regional school improvement service (which
encompasses the five local authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire,
Newport and Torfaen). The EAS works in partnership with the five local authorities to
support and challenge schools effectively across the region. The EAS also provides school
based support for literacy, numeracy, welsh, 14-19, closing the gap, 21st century learning,
foundation phase, leadership, use of data and governor support.
Financial Input:
In July 2014 the EAS reviewed its structure to improve its capacity to raise standards.
Members to note the significant savings achieved by Newport CC from spend on school
improvement services in 2011/12 via the ‘As Is’ model to spend on the same services in
2014/15.
Summary of Spend on EAS Services 11/12 and 14/15
Comparing like with like
2011/12
‘As Is' Model
£ 1,208,154
2014/15
Current Cont.
£
934,254
£
273,900
Saving achieved by Newport
or
22.7%
Service Output:
The following table shows the number of headteachers and teachers trained across the south east
region and the take up by Newport schools as a percentage of the total trained.
Attendance on Courses Financial Year 2013/14
Newport EAS Total
AEN
33
41
Foundation & KS2
30
38
Secondary
3
3
80.5%
Attendance
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
73
55
1
17
251
193
7
51
29.1%
ESDGC
Foundation & KS2
Special
47
46
1
161
160
1
29.2%
ETF
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
112
103
2
6
1
579
508
9
58
4
19.3%
Foundation Phase
Foundation
Special
1,191
1,189
2
4,383
4,376
7
27.2%
HT Conference
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
129
119
562
472
2
84
4
23.0%
524
431
5
86
2
25.0%
HT Seminar
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
10
131
113
18
ICT
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
22
22
99
97
1
1
22.2%
Leadership and
Management
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
140
558
25.1%
122
16
2
457
6
87
8
Literacy
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
485
431
6
48
1,591
1,340
14
237
30.5%
NQTs
Foundation & KS2
Secondary
Special
88
70
18
238
172
65
1
37.0%
Numeracy
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
622
559
2
61
2,705
2,439
7
258
1
23.0%
PESS
Foundation & KS2
Secondary
90
75
15
252
201
51
35.7%
PSE
Foundation & KS2
Secondary
14
13
1
24
22
2
58.3%
Securing Good
Foundation & KS2
26
26
80
80
32.5%
Tackling Poverty
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
Welsh
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
Grant/MySID
Foundation & KS2
PRU
Secondary
Special
Total
25
19
6
394
383
11
42
40
2
3,664
81
56
1
22
2
30.9%
1,644
1,564
10
59
11
24.0%
163
132
1
28
2
25.8%
13,936
26.3%
Newport’s core percentage contribution to the total EAS funding for 2013/14 stood at 24.95% and
the take up by Newport headteachers and teachers on training and CPD offered by the EAS stood
at 26.3%.
The EAS was structured around the following agreed service model. The following table provides
an indication of how money has been distributed to each internal service and where feasible the
number of visits by system leaders to Newport schools has been added. The figures were obtained
from the School Secure system. These figures are based around time spent directly with schools
and does not include the time taken for preparation and write up. Results from above table on
headteachers / teachers trained/CPD has also been added to give some context.
Apportioned Costs / Number of Staff Attending Training Sessions
(Financial Year 2013/14)
Management Team
Business Support
Performance (System
Leaders)
Number of SL Visits
Governors Support
Learning Intelligence
Literacy
Numeracy
Foundation Phase
Welsh Education Grant
14-19
Net
Newport
Expenditure CC
% Total
Contr. to
EAS
24.95%
Attend
Courses
No.
£370,012
£213,321
£1,388,951
£92,336
£53,234
£346,612
400
£125,888
£162,090
£27,445
£93,674
£85,127
£9,448
£60,080
£31,415
£40,449
£6,849
£23,376
£21,243
£2,358
£14,993
617
485
622
1,191
394
-
Newport
% / EAS
24.3%
30.5%
23.0%
27.2%
24.0%
21st Century Learning EAS
SACRE
Brokerage and Intervention
NPQH
HLTA
NQT
Accommodation Charges
Supplies and Services
Surplus
£312,353
£29,723
£155,852
£0
£0
£0
£126,334
£423,781
£77,948
£7,417
£38,893
£0
£0
£0
£31,527
£105,754
£39,849
Total
£3,584,079
£934,254
22
252
88
-
22.2%
23.7%
37.0%
Members will note that the budget allocation to the literacy and numeracy team is very small in light
of Welsh Government priorities, however, the actual expenditure for both areas totals in excess of
£1.22m and that is balanced from other income such as grants and trading totalling £1.1m.
The EAS model delivery was based on the categorisation of schools where greater support is
allocated to schools causing concern. Under the new national model for regional working a greater
emphasis is placed on the school to school model of delivery. There are a number of Newport
schools who featured strongly in this new model delivery and some large sums of money will be
distributed to these schools to support other schools in need and to enhance their own capacity.
Future reports to demonstrate value for money
From the beginning of this financial year 2014/15, a comprehensive and challenging model to
demonstrate value for money (based on outcomes as opposed to outputs) is being developed by
the EAS. The Managing Director has described this model via Directors of Education meetings and
will prepare a regional paper for scrutiny before the end of 2014.
Background Papers
National Model for School Improvement: Welsh Government 2013
Links to Council Policies and Priorities: Linked to the Education Service Plan 2013/14
Options Considered/Available: N/A
Preferred choice and reasons: N/A
Comments of Chief Financial Officer:
The Councils contribution to the EAS currently stands as indicated within the report
at £934,254. This represents 25% of the current spending of the EAS.
The report is welcomed at this stage, and shows the current position in relation to
developing a model/process to assess the ‘Value For Money’ which the Council
receives from the EAS. It is recognised that there is further development required in
this area.
As a regional service, resources have to, in some years, be targeted at other parts
of the region to meet demands on the service and that this is subject to change as
issues and priorities develop.
Comments of Monitoring Officer:
There are no specific legal issues arising from the Report. In accordance with the EAS
Collaboration Agreement, the Council’s Core Funding contribution towards the costs of the EAS is
based on a number of factors, including school numbers and levels of service. The collaboration
Joint Agreement and core funding mechanisms are fixed for an initial period until 2016. Additional
fees are payable to the EAS by each authority for extra commissioned services over and above the
core services. There is a separate commissioning Agreement between the Council and the EAS
which specifies the level and nature of the core school improvement and advisory services being
provided in Newport. The commissioning of the services is overseen by a Joint Executive Group of
the Cabinet Members responsible for the Education service in each of the constituent authorities.
However, Scrutiny Committee has a role to play in monitoring the outcomes and delivery of the
services and identifying any performance issues.
Staffing Implications-:
There are no staffing implications.
Background Papers: None
Dated: 24/09/2014

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