Councillor Cresswell (Cabinet Member for Education, Apprenticeships and Skills) introduced the item and highlighted the following key points:

a)    While teachers and families had provided significant support, the success was down to the young people for their hard work;

b)    There was a collective journey and expressed deep sense of pride and gratitude for the progress made in Plymouth during the year. The progress was attributed to the commitment and collaboration of school leaders, children, families, and local partners, but most of all to the children and young people;

c)    Tangible changes had been seen in classrooms, communities, and the lives of children and young people across the city with key achievements from 2024/25 including:

                  i.        More children achieving a good level of development in early years, with stronger outcomes in literacy and maths.

                 ii.        Improved phonics screening results in Year 1, with over half of pupils achieving a higher score.

                iii.        Attainment improvements across all areas at Key Stage 2.

                iv.        Rising Attainment 8 scores at Key Stage 4, with Plymouth expected to be in line with national averages.

                 v.        Basic measures projected to be in line with or above national averages, with outcomes for disadvantaged pupils well above national in the “4+” GCSE measures.

                vi.        At Key Stage 5, progress measures in A-level and applied qualifications were expected to be above national averages, indicating aspiration and achievement.

d)    Achievements for children in care were noted with more had gaining the qualifications required to secure post-16 pathways. Additionally, more care leavers were choosing to continue learning beyond the age of 18, demonstrating confidence in their potential;

e)    These outcomes were not just numbers but represented real stories, lives, and futures, reflecting the resilience of children, the dedication of educators, and the strength of the community in Plymouth;

f)     It was acknowledged that while progress was good, there was ambition to achieve even more for children and young people.

Stuart Hogg (Practice Manager) and Members of the Participation Team presented questions at the Panel meeting and following discussions it was reported that:

g)    The Participation Team had worked with young people to critically engage with the attainment report through a series of workshops. These sessions aimed to make the data more accessible and link it to previous youth-led campaigns and feedback from forums such as Youth Parliament and Listening Care Councils; 

h)    Amanda Davis (Service Director for Education, Participation and Skills) had agreed to attend individual groups to answer further questions once the final validated data was available; 

i)     The attainment report was difficult to read and contained jargon, making it inaccessible to young people. It was suggested that a simplified version be produced, including breakdowns by gender and SEND. Officers agreed that this would benefit not only young people but also parents and carers, and committed to taking this forward; 

j)     ‘Disadvantage’ referred to children eligible for free school meals in the last six years, children in care, and previously looked-after children. The relevant data was not available but would be included in the final validated report; 

k)    Progress 8 data was missing due to the lack of baseline data caused by COVID-19 disruptions. It was confirmed that this measure would return in 2026; 

l)     The Council had strengthened its oversight and ambition through a new leadership group involving Multi Academy Trust CEOs. An education strategy was being developed to ensure no child was left behind, the strategy aimed to build momentum and ensure all children could succeed; 

m)  Councillor Cresswell emphasised the importance of maintaining ambition for all children and avoiding complacency; 

n)    There were concerns raised around the low attainment of children in care, with only 8% achieving grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSEs. The Committee discussed how improvements could be made and whether the top tips from care-experienced young people could help. Officers agreed the tips were excellent and should be shared widely with schools and Multi Academy Trusts. The Virtual School committed to embedding these tips and prioritising improvement in foundational subjects; 

o)    The Committee considered how secondary schools were supporting students affected by the cost-of-living crisis, particularly regarding access to equipment, uniform, and online resources. A survey would be conducted across schools to gather data on current support and to also identify gaps. Young people offered to assist in designing the survey and confirmed their attendance at the next Headteachers’ Conference to present their campaigns;

p)    A glossary would be appended to future reports to improve accessibility;

q)    Placements outside the city were sometimes necessary due to a lack of available homes in Plymouth or the need to meet individual needs. Lisa Davis (Service Director for Children and Families) added that while the priority was to keep children local, some Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children were placed across the UK, including in London. 

r)    Children were placed outside of Devon and Cornwall and a briefing report with granular data on the number and location of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children placed outside the city would be written;

s)     The Council worked closely with Multi Academy Trust CEOs to identify successful strategies and scale them across the city. Councillor Cresswell cited the Plymouth Oracy Project as an example of a successful initiative that had positively impacted phonics outcomes. 

Actions:  

1.    The service would produce a young person-friendly version of the attainment report, including breakdowns by gender and SEND.

2.    The service would ensure the top tips from care-experienced young people are promoted and embedded across all schools and MATs. 

3.    The service would design and conduct a survey of schools to collect information on support provided to students affected by the cost-of-living crisis. Young people would assist in designing the survey and participate in the next Headteachers’ Conference to present their campaigns. 

4.    Officers to append a glossary to future reports to improve accessibility. 

5.    Future reports would include actual numbers alongside percentages in future reporting, particularly where small cohorts were involved. 

6.    Officers to provide a briefing note to Committee members with granular data on unaccompanied asylum-seeking children placed outside of Plymouth.