Minutes:
White British students had been identified as a group underachieving in the overall examination results for Slough. On this basis, more detailed information had been sought to start finding any emerging patterns or possible areas for work. The matter had also been discussed with the HMI Education Inspector; the possible issue of low numbers magnifying the impact of any outliers had been raised, but not to the extent that further work would be invalid.
The percentages of students who were white British were 16% at primary schools and 17% at secondaries. As a result, those schools which had this amount or higher had been identified; in the case of primaries, this was 17 out of 29, and in secondaries 7 out of 14.
This did make the area one which could be mapped out; SBC already had a specialist advisor on secondary education and was about to recruit some for primaries. The matter would be discussed with these. However, members also needed to be aware that SBC was not in a position to impose; it could only co-operate and advise. Should any future conversations suggest that joint work on the matter should be pursued, appropriate methods would be employed (e.g. focus on clusters of schools).
Resolved: That an agenda item updating on white British underachievement in schools be added to the agenda for 18th July 2017.