Liverpool Institute High School for Boys (Hansard, 25 July 1983)

§ Mr. Dunn

My right hon. Friend's response and the action he has initiated are set out in the two letters which were sent to the authority on 13 June, the texts of which are as follows:

Councillor Hamilton
Leader of the City Council
PO Box 88
Municipal Buildings	13 July 1983
LIVERPOOL L69 2DH

Dear Councillor Hamilton,

LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS I have read the report by HM Inspectorate on the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys with concern and find the state of affairs it reveals most disturbing. Obviously you will want to consider the implications of the report urgently and I would expect you to inform the Department of what you have done and are doing to put matters right. An official letter seeking the Authority's formal response to the report is being sent today. 284W For my part, I think the report underlines, as did HMI's report on Educational Provision in the Toxteth Area, the urgent need for the Authority to come to grips with the management and rational organisation of its county secondary school provision in the interests of Liverpool's children. It also suggests that the Authority will need to review its arrangements for informing itself about the quality of performance in its schools and for taking appropriate measures to secure improvement in that performance. These are matters which I have discussed with the Authority on a number of occasions since my meeting with the Leaders of all three Liverpool parties in May 1982. I think that this report shows the need for another early meeting. I hope that you might give me your initial response to the report and your thinking on measures to secure an overall improvement in the quality of secondary education within the context of a rationalisation of schools' provision in the City. I am sending a copy of this letter to the Chairman of the Education Committee. Yours sincerely Keith Joseph K A Antcliffe Esq Director of Education Liverpool City Council Education Offices 14 Sir Thomas Street Liverpool L1 6BJ 13 July 1983

Sir

1. LIVERPOOL
2. LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS NO. 4407

I am directed by the Secretary of State to send the Authority the attached copies of a report by HM Inspectorate of Schools of a formal inspection of the above-named school between 28 February and 4 March 1983. The report concludes that "the school faces a large number of problems which can be solved only with the close support and help of the local authority and the governors, the whole-hearted commitment and energies of all members of staff and stable leadership. Some of the causes of concern require urgent and immediate attention, while others need more carefully planned long-term solutions". The Secretary of State expects that the Authority, governors and staff will already have taken, have in hand, or be giving active consideration to appropriate measures to rectify these problems and I am to ask for an account within 3 months of the date of this letter of such measures and the timetable for carrying them out. This should cover all the items of concern identified in the report, but the Secretary of State expects that the Authority, following consultation with the governors, will wish to give particular attention to the measures envisaged to:

i. develop a curriculum and employ teaching methods appropriate to the needs and abilities of the pupils attending the school;
ii. improve standards of work across many subjects of the curriculum but especially, in view of the serious deficiencies identified and criticisms made in the report, in music and religious education;
iii. ensure that the statutory duties as to the provision of religious education in county schools under Sections 25 and 26 of the Education Act 1944 are met;
iv. improve standards of behaviour and levels of attendance at the school;
v. ensure that the school has an effective management structure and in particular improve its record-keeping system and establish an effective system for managing its capitation funds;
vi. rectify the suggestions about health and safety aspects listed in Appendix A, together with the additional points mentioned in paragraphs 3.5 and 8.5.1. A number of the points appear to involve contraventions of statutory provisions such as requirements of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

285W

The findings of the report may have application for the general management of the schools maintained by the Authority and I am to ask for details of the Authority's procedures (including the role within them of governing bodies) for the regular monitoring of the performance of their schools and for taking such corrective and supportive action as is found to be necessary. The failings revealed at this school suggest that such procedures have been ineffective in this instance and it would seem prudent therefore to consider the general efficacy of those procedures including the role of the local authority's advisory services. The report also mentions the need for adequate in-service education and training at the school The general question of the Authority's policy for INSET was raised in the March 1982 report by HM Inspectorate on Educational Provision by Liverpool Education Authority in the Toxteth area. The Authority have still to make a formal response to that earlier report and it would now seem sensible for the Authority to consider and respond to the wider issues raised by the two reports at the same time. In accordance with the normal procedures, I am to say that one week from the date of this letter, the Secretary of State will publish the report and copies will be made available to the Press. The Secretary of State has made known his view that copies of published reports should be readily available to the public and he looks to the Authority to make appropriate arrangements in accordance with the advice set out in AM 2/83. 74 copies are being despatched separately. Additional copies of the report may be obtained from the Department of Education and Science, Publications Despatch Centre, Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4PT (telephone 01–952–2366 Extn. 503). Copies of this report and of this letter have been sent to the governing body of the school and its Headteacher. I am Sir Your obedient Servant D A WILKINSON Schools Branch I