Lib Dems say the extra investment could help close York’s ‘attainment gap’ – the difference in education performance between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers.
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The DfE figures revealed that only 3.2 per cent of pupils in York were regarded as persistent absentees [absent for 15 or more per cent of their lessons], a reduction from 5 per cent for the same period in 2012-13.
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All reception, year 1 and year 2 pupils will now get their meals paid for under the scheme, which was first announced by the Liberal Democrats in 2013.
Although some children previously qualified for school meals, some do not take them due to the stigma, and others who don’t qualify struggle to afford them.
Research and pilot schemes in places such as Durham and Wolverhampton show that introducing universal free school meals leads to positive improvements in health, attainment and social cohesion, as well as helping families with the cost of living.
Provisional results show that 64 per cent of young people in York achieved five or more A*-C grades including English and Maths GCSE on first entry.Results this year are not comparable to previous years because of changes made in the performance tables which report the first entry rather than best entry results for candidates.
There have also been significant changes to the examination system in 2014, with the removal of some GCSE equivalent courses from the performance tables, reductions in coursework and the move away from modular examinations towards end of course examinations.
There was some disappointment at York High where a spokesman commented,
“In spite of the hard work of the students, the support of the families and the commitment of staff our results have dropped to 43 per cent of students gaining 5A* – C including English and Maths.
This is of course disappointing but is an inevitable consequence of an assessment based mainly on longer exams at the end of a two year course.”
The Lib Dems, along with groups such as the Carers Trust, are calling for Pupil Premium eligibility to be extended to include young carers.
The Pupil Premium is an additional allowance given to schools to support looked after children and those from low income families.
Children entitled to free school meals are eligible for the funding along with children in care, adopted children, children in hospital schools and service personnel children.
Schools in York have received £12.6 million since the Lib Dem policy was introduced in 2011.
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Westfield school
The Council has published a list of schools which may be closed tomorrow because of a strike by one of the teachers unions.
Those affected include Hob Moor and Westfield.
York High and Millthorpe will be “partially open”.
Dringhouses and Woodthorpe are expected to remain open.
Following the tragic incident in Leeds recently the York Council has published details of the number of attacks by pupils on teachers over the last 5 years.
They say that 16 instances were reported to the Local Authority
13 incidents resulted in cuts/bruises/grazes. 2 injuries were due to bites. 1 resulted in a broken thumb
Only one incident resulted in a teacher having to go to hospital
The locations for the attacks were recorded as
Being a volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge is the best thing to do this summer – it's going to be amazing! pic.twitter.com/qYexbiccu9
— AcombExplore Library (@acombexplore) June 5, 2014
Figures released by DfE last week show school absence in York are amongst the lowest in the country.
In York, absence in primary schools for the 2013 autumn term fell to 3.4 per cent, a figure bettered in only three of the other 150 local authorities.
Similarly, absence in secondary schools fell to 4.4 per cent – the best ever figure for a term in York secondary schools – bettered by only 11 of the 150 other Local Authorities.
Absence figures in York’s secondary schools are also reducing at a faster rate than the national trend.
Where there are barriers or challenges to a child attending regularly, schools work with families to support them in resolving the issues.
The York Council has admitted that it will need to find school places for at least an additional 800 primary age children by 2016.
These are children who will move to the City to occupy houses built on (mainly) green field sites around the City.
The number is in addition to a forecast increase of 1359 primary pupils resulting from natural changes to birth rates and new developments already scheduled to take place.
The number of primary school pupils stands at 12513. This will increase to over 14,000 by September 2016.
The Council says that it has identified between 13 and 15 schools which will need to be expanded, with “one or two” additional schools being built.
The Council accepts that most of the expansion – the costs and source of funding for which are not yet known – will be built on existing playgrounds and playing fields.
With “lead in” times for new school buildings in excess of 2 years, it is likely that the City will see greater use being made of temporary classrooms over the next few years.
The revelations come at a time when the Council is starting to consult on proposals to include still more – mainly green field – land in its development plans..
The draft Local Plan published by the Labour led Council 12 months ago proposed that the City should increase in size by 22,000 homes (25%).
Following the highest number of objections ever received for a city-wide consultation in York, theCouncil is moving closer to adopting a Local Plan for the city. The new proposals change some of the sites and add in others.
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