Council considers new Education Board to help shape schools future

June 27, 2016 by Southend Borough Council

Council considers new Education Board to help shape schools future

Tuesday 28th June 2016

Southend-on-Sea is set to create an Education Board for the Borough, to replace the current Schools Forum (Cabinet, 28th June).

This would enable the local authority to continue to influence education policy and strategy and play a role in school improvement in the future, alongside schools as partners. The education board would also improve engagement between the council, its schools and academies.

The proposed Board would include statutory membership to include representation from primary, secondary, special schools and Governors, along with members from early years and 16-19 providers and professional associations.

In addition membership would be extended to include universities, local business and commerce, the health sector, council officers and the executive councillor for children and learning, who at the current time is Cllr James Courtenay.

He said: “Increasingly responsibility for education matters and schools outcomes is being given to school leaders. An Education Board is an innovative idea that would allow that to continue but give the council a voice on important matters such as school improvement, school performance and education policy for the Borough.

“The Board would also provide a platform for better communication between all stakeholders and the council, allow the board to shape and recommend priorities and targets and most importantly ensure that all young people in Southend-on-Sea get the education that they deserve.”

The proposals include a role for Tim Coulson, the Regional Schools Commissioner for East of England and North-East London, who has responsibility for performance in academies.

If cabinet agree the recommendations, a formal consultation will take place during the Summer with the Board being set up by September 2016, followed by a first meeting in October, and associated sub groups set up as soon as possible after that.