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Blueprint agreed to deliver effective learning across Portsmouth

Last updated: 15 August 2012 15:52

Raising education in the city

Education chiefs have agreed a vision and strategy to raise standards of education and deliver effective learning across Portsmouth.

Schools, the city council and other partners have worked together to agree the vision and blueprint that seeks to raise educational attainment, skill levels and the aspirations of all the children and young people throughout the city.

The 'Effective Learning for Every Pupil – Improving Education in Portsmouth 2012 - 2015' strategy has been formally approved by the council and is available to view in full below. It will be promoted in detail to parents and other partners across the city throughout the autumn school term.

The underpinning principles of the plan are to:

* make sure every pupil achieves the basic standard in literacy and numeracy
* raise expectations and belief in what pupils can achieve
* help pupils achieve better exam results, including in English and maths
* provide consistently strong schools and learning across the whole of the city
* ensure every pupil including the vulnerable and those working at the highest level achieve their very best

Councillor Rob Wood is Cabinet Member for Children and Education at the city council. He said: "This strategy outlines how our education system must best prepare our children and young people for a rapidly changing world, while facing radical changes itself and new policies.

"We are aiming to raise the attainment levels of all our children and young people and also raise the expectations and belief in what they can achieve.

"The responsibility to deliver effective learning for all our pupils is now more than ever, shared - between children and young people, teachers, headteachers, governors, the local authority, diocesan boards, public sector partners and many other organisations with expertise to offer.

"Partners and carers in particular have a crucial role to play in their children's education and need to have an increased say in the thinking and decision making about education.

"The publication of this plan marks the very beginning of our work. We must now work with pupils, schools, parents and other partners so that everyone understands the ambition outlined and can help deliver the improvements needed."

The plan outlines a framework as to how the principles will be delivered which include:

* schools working together to support each other, including throughout clusters and federations
* 'local leaders' sharing best practice in education and schools
* placing school leadership at the heart of raising standards, delivered through effective governance
* developing the local authority’s role to champion the interest of parents and children, support the delivery of efficient and effective education and facilitate the relationship between schools and everyone involved in education.

Di Mitchell is Head of Education and Strategy Commissioning at the council. She said: "We must increase the ambition, pace and rigour to secure outstanding educational opportunities and outcomes for all our children and young people.

"Schools are responsible for their own performance and should be given the maximum possible discretion to make decisions for themselves but at the same time, they must be held accountable for what they do. The local authority will work with schools to help them understand their strengths and areas for development.

"By building upon current good practice and working together with the local authority, Portsmouth schools can achieve the very highest ambitions for all our children and young people."

Simon Cattermole, Head at Stamshaw Junior and Chair of Portsmouth Primary Headteachers said: "This strategy presents an opportunity for everyone involved in education in the city to work together to achieve our aims.

"If we want the best for every child, then a real and public commitment from headteachers and the local authority to work collaboratively, celebrate success and challenge under-performance in equal measure is essential. It can only benefit the children of our city in the long run and contribute to better life-chances for them through improved outcomes in all areas."

Mike Smith, Headteacher at City Boys' School and Chair of the Secondary Headteachers' conference in Portsmouth said: "This strategy recognises there is a greater than ever responsibility on School Leaders to secure improvements in educational outcomes.

"Headteachers in Portsmouth understand that our schools cannot achieve this in isolation. We need to form strong local partnerships which allow resources and good practice to be shared as well holding each other to account."