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Social Mobility
Doncaster
Opportunity Area 2017-20
A local delivery plan to drive social mobility in Doncaster
through educational improvement
2 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan
Contents
Our vision 4
A message from the Secretary of State for Education 5
A message from the Chair of the Doncaster Opportunity Area
partnership board 6
Delivering opportunity for the young people of Doncaster 8
Building on strong foundations 9
Work already underway 11
Engaging young people in the programme 12
Why Doncaster 14
Why Doncaster 15
Our key challenges 17
Strength through partnership 18
The Doncaster Opportunity Area partnership board:
Engineering success in Doncaster 19
Our partnership with national organisations 20
Our priorities 24
Overview of priorities 25
Priority 1: Building solid foundations for all children 26
Priority 2: Brilliant teaching and leadership
for all secondary pupils 31
Priority 3: No career out of bounds 36
Priority 4: Opportunities extend to all 42
Underpinning themes 48
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 3
Our vision
OUR VISION
4 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan
Our vision
A message from the Secretary of State for Education
Beyond of manufacturing, engineering and in the
railways, and the recently opened National
expectations College for High Speed Rail is providing new
Everyone should be able opportunities for young people to learn world-
to make what they can of class technical skills alongside the country’s
themselves, and where existing workforce. It is vital that we offer
they end up should not young people a choice in pathways to higher
be dictated by where education, providing alternatives to traditional
they began. This should be the case for every academic routes.
single young person in Doncaster, regardless of
their background or which part of the borough It is important that the Doncaster Opportunity
they have grown up in. No child should be Area Partnership Board brings together leaders
trapped in personal circumstances that mean from education, enterprise and skills, but also
they cannot access mainstream society and those organisations that work directly with
opportunities. children and young people, including the most
vulnerable. I am grateful to all of the board
Great teachers are the single most important members, and local partners, for their
factor in education and in this plan we are invaluable contributions to developing this
placing greater emphasis on the need to delivery plan. The plan sets out our shared
narrow the education gap in Doncaster. ambition and the priorities for levelling the
Young people will also be given greater playing field on opportunity for children and
opportunity to enhance their life skills which young people in Doncaster, including how
not only increase educational success but will we will get this underway with pace over the
support them to go as far as their talents and coming year.
aspirations will take them. What happens after
the school bell rings is just as relevant as what Finally, my thanks to Professor Chris Husbands
happens in the classroom. for taking up the role as Chair of the
Doncaster Opportunity Area Partnership Board
Social mobility matters both in terms of people, but also for ensuring we place the Doncaster
but also in delivering economic growth. Opportunity Area programme in a wider
The world economy is changing and it is regional context as part of ‘South Yorkshire
through education, skills and training from the Futures’, Sheffield Hallam University’s own
early years into adulthood that we will make social mobility programme.
sure no one is left behind – delivering a modern
country that is globally competitive and fit for The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP
the future. As a nation, we cannot afford to Secretary of State for Education
have talent going to waste. Doncaster will need
to play an important role in supporting the
South Yorkshire economy and supporting the
region to thrive. Doncaster has a proud heritage
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 5
Our vision
A message from the Chair of the Doncaster
Opportunity Area partnership board
Collaboration, efficacy that will support success in education
and employment, and too many miss out on
no matter what securing high skilled jobs that are available in
I began working with the town.
local partners in
Doncaster around I see collaboration across the borough as
eighteen months ago crucial, which is why the partnership board
following the Education have made it one of our underpinning themes
and Skills Commission’s report ‘One Doncaster’. of this plan. We need to harness pride and
I was struck by the sense of ambition the town motivation for change across the whole of
has but also by its unique feel as a vast the borough so that everyone works together
metropolitan borough made up of a number to create inclusion and strength, not division
of smaller communities, each diverse and and weakness. I am incredibly pleased to
each with its own strong sense of identity have a partnership board working with me
born out of history. Some of these communities that is made up of local leaders who will work
have flourished. However, some areas of the collaboratively to address significant barriers
town have not and experience high levels of Doncaster faces to improve social mobility.
deprivation creating significant inequality Board members have a wealth of expertise and
of opportunity in the town between the experience and this has helped us create this
economically disadvantaged and those who delivery plan and shape the activity we will do
are more affluent. We will address this with against the four priority areas.
urgency to improve social mobility for this
generation as well as the next. Professor Chris Husbands
Independent Chair of Doncaster Opportunity
I appreciate the scale of the challenge we Area partnership board, Vice Chancellor of
have in improving education and skills, and Sheffield Hallam University
social mobility, in Doncaster. Too many children
are being held back based on where they
live in the town, not because of their ability,
drive and determination. Too many young
people from disadvantaged backgrounds do
not get access to high quality teaching and
learning in Doncaster. Too many do not get
access to learning opportunities that enhance
non-cognitive skills such as resilience and self- GET IN TOUCH
Opportunity.areas@education.gov.uk
@ Doncaster_OA
6 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 7
DELIVERING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF DONCASTER
Delivering opportunity for the young people of Doncaster
Building on strong foundations
Strengths and opportunities
Doncaster is geographically the largest metropolitan borough in the country with a population
of over 300,000 people of which around 72,000 are children and young people. It is extremely
diverse – from the rurality of the north to the former coal mining communities in the south.
This gives Doncaster a unique feel and helps to make it a fantastic place to live, work and go to
school. In each of these communities there is a wealth of opportunity that can be used to inspire
children and young people, enhance aspiration and guard against insularity.
• The new National College for High and holds many significant cultural
Speed Rail was officially opened by assets for young people to access such
Education Secretary, Justine Greening, as the Northern Racing College (who run a
in October 2017 and will act as a catalyst programme to support young people from
to maximise the economic benefit of HS2 disadvantaged backgrounds), the Yorkshire
on local communities, bringing significant Wildlife Park and a multi-purpose sports
numbers of new jobs to the area and training stadium; The Keepmoat.
thousands of new high skilled rail engineers.
The college builds on Doncaster’s existing • Local leaders have high ambition for
national and international reputation for children and young people who live in
leading innovation in rail engineering and the borough. Through implementation of the
advanced manufacturing. It also supports Doncaster Children and Young People’s Plan
Doncaster’s position within the region, it seeks to become ‘the most child friendly
leading the way in a number of sectors borough’ in the country by 2020. The plan
including manufacturing and multi-modal signals a shift in partnership working in the
logistics based at the Doncaster borough and a change in approach to ensure
International iPort. the best outcomes for young people.
• The Unity regeneration project in Hatfield, • There is a strong youth alliance
Stainforth and Dunscroft proposes to create partnership, EXPECT Youth, whose partner
around 3,000 new homes, 180 acres of organisations provide children and young
commercial manufacturing space and people with a range of support in arts, sports,
approximately 6,000 new jobs. careers advice and social action projects.
At the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce
• Doncaster is a great place to live and work Business Awards 2017, EXPECT Youth won
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 9
Delivering opportunity for the young people of Doncaster
an award for delivering success through
partnership working.
• The National Collaborative Outreach
Programme1 run by the Higher Education
Progression Partnership (HEPP) is already
working with Doncaster College and six
secondary schools in Doncaster’s most
deprived wards to increase the number
of young people with academic potential,
participating in higher education – either as
part of a degree-level apprenticeship or a
university course.
• The local authority’s Education
Inclusion programme seeks to improve
educational outcomes for all children
in Doncaster, with a particular focus on
vulnerable and/or disadvantaged children.
High numbers of fixed term exclusions,
managed moves, persistent absence and
poor educational outcomes for children
and young people in alternative provision
triggered a whole system review in relation
to behaviour management.
“The Opportunity Area programme has
brought honest conversations and
challenge to the area.”
Helen Redford-Hernandez, Headteacher
Hungerhill School and Lead Director of
Secondary Teaching School, Partners
in Learning.
1 www.hefce.ac.uk/sas/ncop/
10 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planDelivering opportunity for the young people of Doncaster
Work already underway
Since Doncaster was selected as an Opportunity Area, strong partnerships have been forged across
the borough to build solid foundations for the programme. Through a number of key initiatives, we have
introduced additional support for those working with children and young people across the town.
Some of the work already underway includes:
• Launch of a new EEF Research School2 – including phonics, STEM (science,
The Partners in Learning EEF Research School technology, engineering and maths) and
builds on and takes forward the organisation’s school leadership.
existing work as a leading Teaching School • Support for children and young people with
Alliance in South Yorkshire. special educational needs and disability
• Appointment of a new Enterprise (SEND): Additional careers advice and
Coordinator who is working with seventeen guidance, and improved links with employers for
secondary schools and colleges that are now children and young people with SEND.
part of the Enterprise Adviser network to ensure To support this activity, the Opportunity Area team
pupils receive four quality encounters with put in place by the Department for Education have:
the world of work. The Careers & Enterprise
Company held a workshop in December with • Worked with local partners to unlock their
employers to share information about how they impetus and energy to improve social mobility
can engage in this programme. in Doncaster and to create a shared urgency for
securing improved outcomes for children and
• Three cornerstone employers have young people.
been announced (Mantra Media, Adecco
and Willmott Dixon) and are helping to • Significantly increased collaboration through the
prepare young people to make the most coming together of the partnership board and
out of education, employment and training four working groups that have co-constructed
opportunities available to them so that they this delivery plan.
unlock their occupational potential. • Engaged regularly and meaningfully with
• School improvement and continuing stakeholders – three well-attended interactive
professional development (CPD): ensuring events that have allowed stakeholders to input
national support is being delivered effectively at their views, give feedback on the priorities and
a local level, in particular: shape the delivery plan. The team have also
held a ‘drop in’ session for children, young
– Strategic School Improvement Fund people and their families so that they can share
(SSIF) – three teaching school alliances their views on the programme.
are already supporting seventeen schools
across Doncaster. We will work with • Introduced research and academic thinking into
the sub-regional improvement board to the programme. A strong partnership has been
maximise the impact of this fund locally. developed between ‘South Yorkshire Futures’, a
regional social mobility programme being led by
– Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund Sheffield Hallam University, and the Opportunity
(TLIF) – funded professional development Area programme that allows the university to
training for teachers delivered by five share research and academic thinking.
providers in a number of different areas
2 The Research Schools Network is a collaboration between the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and the Institute for Effective
Education (IEE) to fund a network of schools which will support the use of evidence to improve teaching practice.
www.educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/our-work/research-schools
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 11Delivering opportunity for the young people of Doncaster
Engaging young people in the programme
Engaging young people in developing Young people tell us that:
the delivery plan • They have negative perceptions of
The partnership board have put children Doncaster.
and young people firmly at the heart of our • There is a lack of clear careers advice and
programme and we have engaged directly guidance available to all students – no matter
with over 100 young people in Doncaster what their ambitions or dreams.
from different social backgrounds. We have
seen the National Citizen Service programme Young people have told us that too often
in action, attended a Youth Council meeting, careers advice consists of researching jobs
spoken to the Youth Council alumni and run online with little support from a trained careers
a large consultation event at The Doncaster adviser. Many say they feel ‘forced’ to take a
Dome in conjunction with EXPECT Youth – particular career route by those advising them
Doncaster’s youth alliance. Our aim is to ensure at school, because they are told that they don’t
that young people feel part of this programme have the skills to achieve the career that they
and see this plan as something that they have might actually want. We have also heard that
directly added value to – ultimately they are the young people would find it useful if careers
experts when we talk about a young person’s advice was delivered by professionals who are
experience of education. independent of school but with time built into
the school day so that they can access it.
“I would like to see the Opportunity
Area programme in schools interacting
with students.”
“I would like to see people from
the Opportunity Area programme
attend social events and take
questionnaires to capture my views
in the future.”
“I would like to see the Opportunity Area
programme continue getting people’s
opinions and views.”
12 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planDelivering opportunity for the young people of Doncaster
Engaging young people in • Recruit Doncaster ambassadors
from children and young people’s groups
implementing the delivery plan including: care leavers; young people with
At the consultation event we asked children special educational needs and disabilities
and young people how they would like the (SEND); and young people from the lesbian,
Opportunity Area programme to capture their gay, bi-sexual and trans (LGBT) community.
views in the future. A number of young people Ambassadors will ensure a ‘youth voice’
said that they would like interaction in schools remains heard in this programme and will
with the programme; other responses included work with primary school pupils to open their
‘put on more events’ and ‘use social media and eyes to opportunities.
more communications’.
• Establish an alumni of former Doncaster
We will be working with children and young school students who have gone on to
people to: experience personal and career success,
who can inspire future generations of young
• Promote Doncaster as a great place to people in Doncaster to go as far as their
live and work – working with a group of dreams, ambitions and drive will take them.
children and young people to develop their
own marketing campaign for the borough
that will be rolled out to schools.
• Design and implement the programme of
work to deliver our ambition that there are
‘no careers out of bounds’ for young people.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 13Why Doncaster
WHY DONCASTER
14 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planWhy Doncaster
301st out of 324 districts
Why Doncaster Doncaster’s ranking in the Social Mobility
We must build on Doncaster’s strengths to Index (2016)3 that compares the chances
overcome entrenched failure in schools and that a child from a disadvantaged
remove barriers that prevent many children and background will do well at school and
young people from reaching their full potential. get a good job4.
34
Attaining well – primary Attaining well – secondary
Percentage of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, Average Attainment 8 scores of pupils at the end of key stage 4 (2016)
writing and maths at end of key stage 2 (2016)
33% 38
Disadvantaged Disadvantaged
pupils pupils
39% 41
46% 47
All pupils All pupils
54% 50
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Doncaster England Doncaster England
Source: Revised KS2 assessment data Source: Revised KS4 attainment data
Thriving in school Good guidance into adulthood
Number of fixed period exclusions in schools expressed Percentage of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in 2014
as a percentage of the school population (2016) not in sustained destination in 2015
2% 15%
Disadvantaged
Primary
pupils
1% 11%
31% 8%
Secondary All pupils
9% 5%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20%
Doncaster England Doncaster England
Source: DfE, Permanent and fixed-period exclusions Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes dataset
3 This is Doncaster’s ranking within the 2016 social mobility index. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-mobility-index.
The more recent publication on the Social Mobility Index 2017, places Doncaster within a similar position at 298 out of 324 districts.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-mobility-index-2017-data
4 For this analysis, we have grouped local authority districts into six groups (sextiles). The markers on the graphs described as ‘high performing’
and ‘low performing’ relate to the top and bottom local authority district sextile. Within this plan, the ‘disadvantaged’ group varies depending
on the Department for Education data source. However, they all include the number of pupils who were eligible for free school meals at any
point in the previous six years. For further details about the specific definition of ‘disadvantage’ for each Department for Education data source,
see the ‘Education statistics by local authority, district and pupil disadvantage’ release found on the Department for Education Statistics page.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 15Why Doncaster 16 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan
Why Doncaster
Our key challenges
Attaining well in primary Coupled with high persistent absence data,
this shows that too many children and
and secondary young people are spending too little of their
Children in Doncaster achieve relatively time accessing learning in school. We are
well in their early years education, up to the keen to build a better culture of school
end of their reception class year. From this attendance across the district and there is a
point onwards however, pupil attainment commitment now to drive this forward.
starts to fall away from national levels and
the gap between outcomes for all children Good guidance into adulthood
and those from disadvantaged backgrounds
grows. Attainment at key stage 2 is below Analysis of post-16 and post-19 destinations
national for all children and disadvantaged data show that more young people
children across the core subjects of reading, in Doncaster fail to reach a sustained
writing and maths and this continues to poor destination post-16 and post-19 than is
attainment at key stage 4 where Attainment the case nationally. In conversations with
8 scores are markedly lower for all pupils and young people in Doncaster, there is a clear
pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. sense that they do not feel the guidance they
receive reflects all the opportunities available
to them and is of a sufficient quality and
Thriving in school frequency to enable them to make the best
Fixed term exclusion data for the area decisions that they can.
shows a markedly higher rate than is the
case nationally, or even when compared
to neighbouring local authority areas.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 17Strength through partnership
STRENGTH THROUGH
PARTNERSHIP
Club Doncaster Foundation is absolutely committed to
improving lives of young people, particularly those who
are from some of the most challenging areas of the
borough. In association with EXPECT Youth, Doncaster’s
youth alliance organisation, we bring experience,
energy and an enthusiasm that can add value to the
social mobility priorities set out in this plan. I see the
importance of partnership working across the area.
I am confident that through this programme, which
brings a wide variety of organisations together to work
in collaboration, we will deliver more opportunities for
children and young people in Doncaster that will have
a positive impact on their lives.”
Jim Lord – CEO, Club Doncaster Foundation
“Doncaster College is committed to working actively
in partnership to ensure we make a positive difference
to the lives of all our young people. We have a real
opportunity here to make a step change and raise their
ambitions, aspirations and achievement so that we
secure their futures and Doncaster’s future.”
Anne Tyrrell – CEO, Doncaster College (part of DN
Colleges Group)
18 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planStrength through partnership
The Doncaster Opportunity Area partnership board:
Engineering success in Doncaster
The Doncaster Opportunity Area partnership Partnership board members
board is made up of representatives from
organisations across Doncaster including the • Damian Allen: Director of People, Doncaster
largest Teaching School Alliance (and now EEF Metropolitan Borough Council
Research School), the Children’s Services Trust • Carolyn Blundell: Associate Executive
and the charitable arm of Doncaster Rovers Principal, Outwood Grange Academies Trust
Football Club. It brings together those people
who can make a difference in Doncaster by • Nigel Brewster: Partner, Brewster Pratap
overseeing and influencing successful delivery and Vice Chair Sheffield City Region Local
of this plan. To support the partnership board, Enterprise Partnership
four working groups have been established that
• Janet Foster: Executive Headteacher,
will help to deliver the activites set out against
Kirk Sandall Academy Trust and Director of
each of the priorities. The partnership board
Primary Teaching School Alliance, Partners in
will meet regularly to oversee progress, working
Learning
alongside the Department for Education
and other national organisations to ensure • Clare Hutchinson: Area Manager – North,
the programme is coherent, effective and The Careers & Enterprise Company
represents good value for money.
• Jim Lord: CEO, Club Doncaster Foundation
Doncaster partnership board • Paul Moffatt: Chief Executive, Doncaster
membership Children’s Services Trust
Chair – Professor Chris Husbands • Helen Redford-Hernandez: Headteacher
Hungerhill School and Lead Director of
Professor Chris Husbands is a university Secondary Teaching School, Partners in
leader, academic, educationalist and public Learning
servant. His expertise in educational policy and
improvement led to his appointment as Co- • Lisa Suter: Headteacher, Heatherwood
Chair of the former Doncaster Education and Special School
Skills Board. He became Vice-Chancellor of • Anne Tyrrell: CEO, Doncaster College
Sheffield Hallam University in January 2016 and (part of DN Colleges Group)
during this time has been leading work across
the region to drive improvements in education The board will also be attended by Department
and skills – particularly through the South for Education officials, including the Regional
Yorkshire Futures programme. Schools Commissioner and the Doncaster
Opportunity Area team. A local programme
manager will also attend as part of their role
supporting the work of the partnership board.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 19Strength through partnership
Our partnership with national organisations
The partnership board welcomes the Working with CEC, we will deliver 96,000
opportunity to work collaboratively with national encounters over the lifetime of this plan.
as well as local partners to deliver success A share of the CEC’s £2m investment fund will
against the four priorities set out in this plan. also contribute to the delivery of four or more
We are currently working with two national meaningful employer encounters for pupils
partner organisations (The Careers & Enterprise aged eleven to eighteen in Doncaster.
Company and the National Citizen Service
Trust) that can offer young people a range This work will be supported by two dedicated
of personal development experiences – and Enterprise Co-ordinators for Doncaster, already
we are being supported by the Education in post and co funded by the CEC and the
Endowment Foundation to implement evidence Local Enterprise Partnership. Enterprise Co-
based good practice in schools in Doncaster. ordinators will offer every school and college
in Doncaster access to an Enterprise Adviser
(a senior business volunteer), who will help
schools and colleges develop a strategy for
The Careers & Enterprise their careers work with young people and
Company (CEC) help to better connect schools and colleges
with employers. To leverage more encounters,
Deliver encounters with the world of work:
including for young people with SEND, we will
The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) will
work with our cornerstone employers who
ensure that every eleven to eighteen year old
will role model the closer working between
benefits from at least four high quality employer
employers, schools and colleges that we will
encounters over the lifetime of the Opportunity
create in Doncaster.
Area programme. This follows research from
the Education and Employers Taskforce5 which
shows that a young person who has four or
more encounters with an employer is 86%
less likely to be unemployed or not in education
or training, and can earn up to eighteen
percent more during their career. Delivering
these four encounters will help schools
achieve the Gatsby Benchmarks relating to
‘encounters with employers’, and ‘experiences
of workplaces’.
5 https://www.educationandemployers.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/its_who_you_meet_final_26_06_12.pdf
20 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planStrength through partnership
Education Endowment The National Citizen Service
Foundation (EEF) programme
An independent charity dedicated to Delivered by Club Doncaster
breaking the link between family income and Foundation (on behalf of the English
educational achievement. EEF will support the Football League Trust (EFLT) and the National
partnership board by working with schools Citizen Service) this programme offers young
across the borough to make the best use of people the chance to develop their personal
evidence about what works in education – skills including confidence and resilience,
particularly improving outcomes for pupils from and helps them to build relationships with
disadvantaged backgrounds. students who attend different secondary
schools, in different parts of the borough.
The EEF have designated Partners in Learning,
a Teaching School Alliance, as the area’s Young people take part in activities as part of a
dedicated EEF Research School who already residential trip, including: rock climbing; hiking;
offer support to schools of all phases. The EEF canoeing; and archery. After the residential
Research School was formally launched trip, participants take part in a discovery week
in October 2017, and the event was well- where they learn new skills that they might
attended by nearly 100 delegates including not get the chance to learn in school – such
senior Department for Education speakers as an insight into politics. The final phase of
and the EEF who have already started working the programme involves a community-based
with Partners in Learning to develop a plan social action project. This project is planned
for the EEF Research School. The plan will by the young people and it helps them to build
include priority areas for accelerating school relationships with their local communities.
improvement across Doncaster and sharing
evidence based good practice. National Citizen Service graduates report that
the programme has a long lasting impact on
their lives, helping many young people to form
friendships across the borough that they do not
feel they would have done otherwise.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 21Strength through partnership
The 2017 cohort of young people on the We will explore the feasibility of partnering
programme was nearly ten times larger than the National Citizen Service with other local
it was four years ago, with 705 young people organisations to develop additional ways of
aged fifteen to seventeen taking part. 2017 enhancing young people’s skills as part of
graduates volunteered for 21,150 hours and the three week programme. For example,
raised £9,000 for local charities. we have heard from young people that there
is limited advice and guidance on starting up
As a result of the Opportunity Area programme, your own business and there is an opportunity
National Citizen Service Trust, EFL Trust and for the National Citizen Service to work with
Club Doncaster are looking to widen the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce to produce
scope of the programme and extend its reach an enterprise-focused National Citizen Service
locally. For example, a specific programme for programme which addresses this gap.
vulnerable young people.
Through our engagement with young people
in care and those who have left care, we
have heard that they do not feel comfortable
attending the programme at present, for fear of
isolation as a minority – we must address this “Part of the course was actually learning
with urgency. new skills for the future. I thought that
this was really good in that they didn’t
teach us useless skills…better yet
having the National Citizen Service
experience on your CV is just incredible.”
“Unforgettable week away in the
Lake District with the National National Citizen Service graduate
Citizen Service programme,
amazing experience.”
National Citizen Service graduate
22 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planDoncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 23
Our priorities
OUR PRIORITIES
24 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planOur priorities
Overview of priorities
Levelling up attainment and opportunities for children and young people
who face disadvantage.
Priority 1. Building solid foundations for all children
Narrowing the attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged primary pupils
in literacy and numeracy, giving all children the strongest possible start to their schooling.
Priority 2. Brilliant teaching and leadership for all secondary pupils
Increasing the number of good school places so that every young person in Doncaster has
access to high quality teaching and learning in a school that is run by strong leaders.
Priority 3. No career out of bounds
Helping more of Doncaster’s young people to find the right academic and vocational routes
for the careers they aspire to.
Priority 4. Opportunities extend to all
Taking active steps to help the most vulnerable to access opportunities that will support them
to succeed in and out of education – and go as far as their ability and ambition will take them.
Underpinning themes
Recruiting quality
Collaboration Essential life skills
teachers
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 25Our priorities
Priority 1: Building solid foundations for all children
We will narrow the attainment gap between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged primary pupils
in literacy and numeracy, giving all children the strongest possible start to their schooling.
Why this is an issue
An improving picture in early years leave primary. Employers place a high value
on English and maths but locally, considering
According to 2016 data, children eligible Doncaster’s largest growth sectors – logistics
for free schools meals in Doncaster out and transport, advanced manufacturing, and
performed their national peers in achieving a financial and professional services – it is even
good level of development at the end of the more important that all children leave primary
early years phase and a higher percentage of school and move to secondary school with
pupils compared to national figures reached solid literacy and numeracy attainment.
the expected standard in all early learning
goals. The standard of provision for three and Too few children from disadvantaged
four year olds is high, with 87% of settings backgrounds in Doncaster however are
rated as good or outstanding in 2016. reaching the expected standard in literacy
Participation in early years provision is above and numeracy by the end of key stage 2
national average with 74% of two year olds – with reading and maths the areas of
and 96% of three and four year olds taking greatest concern. In 2016, less than half
up funded early education places. These are (43%) of all pupils from disadvantaged
strong educational foundations to build on. backgrounds reached the expected standard
in reading and only 6% reached greater
The importance of building strong depth – compared nationally to 53% and
foundations 10% respectively. In the same year, of the
3,760 pupils who had a phonics screening
Prior attainment is particularly critical check, one in five did not reach the expected
in helping children from disadvantaged standard – nearly a quarter of those were
backgrounds reach the expected standards eligible for free school meals (FSM).
in literacy and numeracy by the time they
26 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planOur priorities
Why this is an issue
In maths, outcomes for pupils from Simply driving standards up across the
disadvantaged backgrounds were also below entire borough may not address the
national average in 2016: only 51% reached gap between disadvantaged and non-
the expected standard and 6% reached disadvantaged children in Doncaster. We
greater depth of understanding – compared need to be more targeted. Evidence shows
nationally to 58% and 9% respectively. that pupils eligible for FSM will still have
Data shows a strong relationship between comparatively worse attainment even when
schools that were below the Government’s they attend good schools.
floor standard in 2016 – i.e. the minimum
it expects all schools to achieve6 – and The most important school-level factor
those situated in areas with highest levels in raising attainment for disadvantaged
of deprivation, with greatest numbers pupils is ensuring that high quality teaching,
of disadvantaged pupils. Some schools together with strong leadership, are in place
in Doncaster are bucking this trend. For in the schools with the highest numbers of
example, at one school 36% of pupils were children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
eligible for free school meals (FSM) in 2016 For Doncaster, this means supporting the
yet outcomes were above national average, best teachers and leaders to work in schools
including those for disadvantaged pupils: serving the most disadvantaged and deprived
70% met the expected standard and the communities so that we narrow the gap,
average progress score in maths was +3.1 remove education inequality and ensure all
(significantly more progress than children pupils have the same opportunity to succeed.
make on average).
Percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard Percentage of pupils achieving the expected standard in
in reading at the end of key stage 1 (2016) reading at end of key stage 2 (2016)
100% 100%
80% 77% 74% 80%
73% 73%
70%
65% 66%
60%
60% 54% 60% 53% 56%
43%
40% 40%
20% 20%
0% 0%
FSM pupils Non-FSM pupils All pupils Disadvantaged Non-disadvantaged All pupils
pupils pupils
Doncaster England FSM pupils: LAD low performing maker Doncaster England Disadvantaged pupils: LAD low performing marker
FSM pupils: LAD high performing maker Disadvantaged pupils: LAD high performing marker
Source: National Pupil Database Source: Revised KS2 assessment data
6 In 2016, the Department for Education set the floor standard at 65% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths or
sufficient progress across all areas.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 27Our priorities
Percentage of pupils achieving the expected standard in
maths at end of key stage 2 (2016)
100%
80% 76%
73% 70%
64%
60% 58%
51%
40%
20%
0%
Disadvantaged Non-disadvantaged All pupils
pupils pupils
Doncaster England Disadvantaged pupils: LAD low performing marker
Disadvantaged pupils: LAD high performing marker
Source: Revised KS2 assessment data
What we will do
We will concentrate our efforts on narrowing This plan will set out how we will:
the gap between disadvantaged and non-
disadvantaged pupils at the end of key • Raise the bar on training and
stage 2 so that more disadvantaged pupils development to increase the number
meet the expected standards – focusing of great teachers who are advocates
specifically on reading and maths. To do of learning and are passionate about
this, we will target all schools for some the craft of teaching. There is an urgent
interventions but in most, we will adopt a need to increase the number of outstanding
targeted approach working with schools teachers within Doncaster’s primary
with the greatest number of disadvantaged schools. We want to retain existing talent
children or the most significant attainment so that they are able to have influence
gaps. We have already established a new in schools operating in challenging
primary headteacher group, led by the circumstances and make sure high
Partners in Learning Teaching School quality teaching and learning is delivered
Alliance. This group will oversee successful to children who need it the most. We will
delivery of this ambition and will develop and ensure teachers in mainstream and special
implement a cross-borough primary school schools get access to the best evidence
improvement plan. based professional development, including
support being offered by through the
Teaching and Leadership Innovation Fund.
28 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planOur priorities
What we will do
We will also commission a new and • Create a new literacy campaign that
complementary continuous professional will draw on evidence based good
development (CPD) programme tailored practice such as that from the EEF
to the needs of schools in Doncaster. and the local authority’s existing reading
The combined national and local CPD strategy. We will work with all schools to
programmes will help schools retain good improve the quality of literacy teaching,
teachers by growing existing talent and focusing on improving outcomes for
making Doncaster stand out as a great disadvantaged pupils by promoting
place to teach. classroom practices that are shown to
have greatest impact in closing the gap.
• Improve the quality of maths teaching We will draw on the EEF Toolkit7 and its
and learning to achieve better guidance on developing meta-cognition,
outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. (‘learning to learn’) and collaborative and
There are examples of outstanding maths co-operative learning. Priority support
practice within the borough, where brilliant will be given to those schools in areas
teachers have narrowed the gap in maths of deprivation and targeted towards 30
attainment between disadvantaged and schools where reading outcomes at key
non-disadvantaged pupils. There is also an stage 2 are a concern.
active network of maths hubs (the South
Yorkshire Maths Hub, the West Yorkshire • Ensure schools receive help from
Maths Hub and the Yorkshire and Humber an education adviser. The adviser
Maths Hub) who all support work to will work supportively with them to
improve maths outcomes at key stage 2 access the right school improvement
in Doncaster. Using the mastery specialist programmes to improve educational
and teacher research groups approach outcomes. This offer will help 25 schools
embedded in maths hubs, we will cascade where outcomes are below the minimum
a mastery approach to teaching across the expected. An education adviser will be
borough. In addition to this, the Partners in deployed to work with these schools to
Learning EEF Research School will deliver identify areas for improvement with a
training to schools in understanding and high level of specificity, and to navigate
using the new maths guidance report the school improvement system so
produced by the EEF and more widely will that schools access the best and most
ensure evidence based good practice is appropriate support available.
disseminated throughout the local primary
schools network.
7
7 https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 29Our priorities
Our 2018 activity will include:
• We are using the Teaching and • We will commission a bespoke
Leadership Innovation Fund to provide professional development programme
primary school leaders and teachers that will use robust evidence and research
with quality professional development. to support leaders of teaching and learning
Ruth Miskin Training will provide teachers to embed a change leadership model.
with training in reading and phonics. STEM This will lead to sustainable improvements
Learning will deliver the Aspire to STEM to the quality of teaching and learning.
programme. Edison Learning will work with This programme will focus on catch up
a network of primary schools to deliver strategies, reading, maths and meta-
training to school leaders on teaching and cognition and self-regulation (learning
assessment for learning and strengthening to learn). We will target ten schools that
school leadership. These programmes have the weakest outcomes in reading,
are already being targeted at schools writing and maths (combined) at key stage
judged to require improvement or special 2 and those that are in areas of greatest
measures (Ofsted categories 3 and 4). deprivation.
• We are supporting schools using the • We will ensure two more primary
Strategic School Improvement Fund maths leads from Doncaster
– targeted, evidence based school commence training as teaching for
improvement support. We will implement mastery specialists in order to support
successful bids to ensure that they deliver other schools in implementing this
agreed outcomes for our schools most approach.
in need of support and we will look for
opportunities to ‘scale up’ successful bids • A new dedicated education adviser
where we feel they could have greater will work with 25 primary schools from
impact on schools in Doncaster. March 2018 to improve their access to
school improvement programmes and
additional support.
Our targets for 2020/21 are:
• 75% of all pupils to achieve the expected disadvantaged pupils by
standard in reading, writing and maths six percentage points so
combined at the end of KS2 in 2020/21 that 69% of disadvantaged
(equating to 1,290 more children). pupils achieve the expected
Nationally, 54% of pupils reached this standard in reading, writing
standard in 2016 and 62% in 2017. and maths combined at the end of key
stage 2 in 2020/21 (equating to 260 more
• We will narrow the attainment gap disadvantaged children achieving the
between disadvantaged and non- combined outcome).
30 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planOur priorities
Priority 2: Brilliant teaching and leadership
for all secondary pupils
We will increase the number of good school places so that every young person in Doncaster has
access to high quality teaching and learning in a school that is run by strong leaders.
Why this is an issue
As with primary attainment, research shows retraining in the core subjects and by schools
that the biggest educational influence on developing resources, training and CPD to
raising secondary attainment is the quality upskill existing staff. In other schools, there is
of teaching and leadership8 – and this is not the capacity to do this ‘in house’.
again particularly important for pupils from
disadvantaged backgrounds. Data from 2016 also highlights the borough’s
challenge in ensuring all young people
Data from 2016 indicates that the overall attend a school with strong leadership – a
quality of secondary schools in Doncaster prerequisite of raising attainment for all pupils
is poor, with only 61% of pupils attending but particularly those from disadvantaged
a school rated good or outstanding. By backgrounds. The opportunity for young
comparison, a higher percentage of pupils people to attend a school where the
nationally (82%) attend schools rated good or leadership and management has been rated
outstanding. There is even less opportunity good or outstanding is lower than national
for young people from disadvantaged levels, particularly for those pupils who are
backgrounds in Doncaster to go to good eligible for FSM.
schools, with only 50% of pupils eligible for
FSM attending schools that have been rated There is also correlation (as with the primary)
good or outstanding for overall effectiveness. between schools with the lowest numbers
of pupils securing good outcomes, those
Locally, secondary leaders report difficulty situated in wards with highest levels of
recruiting enough high quality subject- deprivation (for example, Balby and Hatfield)
specific teachers – particularly in science, and schools with greatest numbers of
English and maths – which means schools disadvantaged pupils. The secondary school
are forced to draw on existing teaching system in Doncaster has not had sufficient
staff to teach outside of their specialism stability in recent years, with work needed to
without having received good quality ensure all secondary academies are part of
training. In some schools, this is overcome strong, high performing multi-academy trusts
by teachers with capacity to deliver school improvement.
8 See for example Sutton Trust (2014) What makes great teaching? Review of underpinning research.
https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/What-Makes-Great-Teaching-REPORT.pdf
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 31Our priorities
Why this is an area of focus
In terms of the impact that this has on The number of pupils entered for the EBacc
outcomes, on average young people in qualification is also far lower than national
Doncaster make significantly less progress average – denying some young people a
than their national peers. The average broad set of academic qualifications from
Progress 8 score for all pupils in Doncaster which they can build on further academic
is -0.21 compared to -0.03 nationally. or vocational learning. Based on 2016
This is particularly evident in STEM subjects data, 27.4% of pupils were entered; over
(crucial for many of the high skilled jobs in twelve percentage points lower than the
the local and regional labour markets) and national rate and out of the 830 entered,
specifically in maths where the average only 147 were pupils from disadvantaged
Attainment 8 scores for disadvantaged and backgrounds.
non-disadvantaged pupils is 9.1– 0.7 points
lower than the national rate.
Percentage of FSM pupils in secondary schools by Ofsted rating for effectiveness
of leadership and management (January 2017)
100%
26.8% 25.7%
80%
60%
40.6%
54.9%
40%
20%
32.7%
14.1%
0% 5.4%
Doncaster England
Outstanding Good Requires improvement Inadequate
Source: School Census, Ofsted
Average Attainment 8 scores of pupils at the end
of key stage 4: maths component (2016) Average Progress 8 scores of pupils at the end of key stage 4 (2016)
12 0.2
0.10
10.6 0.1
10.0 9.8
10 9.1 0.0
8.0 -0.1 -0.03
8
-0.02
7.3 -0.2
6 -0.3 -0.21
-0.4
-0.38
4 -0.5
-0.6
2
-0.7
-0.62
0 -0.8
Disadvantaged Non-disadvantaged All pupils Disadvantaged Non-disadvantaged All pupils
pupils pupils pupils pupils
Doncaster England Disadvantaged pupils: LAD low performing marker Doncaster England Disadvantaged pupils: LAD low performing marker
Disadvantaged pupils: LAD high performing marker Disadvantaged pupils: LAD high performing marker
Source: Revised KS4 attainment data Source: Revised KS4 attainment data
32 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planOur priorities
What we will do
We will address the urgent need for all • Continue supporting multi-academy
secondary schools to work together for trusts to be high performing and
the benefit of pupils in Doncaster. We will sustainable – targeting support in
increase the number of excellent leaders at particular to those trust that accountable
every level and ensure existing high quality for the eight schools rated requires
teaching, developed in schools and within improvement or inadequate9. We are
multi-academy trusts, is used to support helping them to access support, both
those schools most in need of improvement. financially and in expert advice and
Collaboration and collective ownership for guidance, to ensure they are well managed
better outcomes for Doncaster’s young and run by strong leaders. Where this
people will be the underpinning principles for aligns with the urgent need to improve
how we will ensure better outcomes for all. school standards in Doncaster schools,
we are encouraging strong multi-academy
We will work with the Regional Schools trusts to access financial support to
Commissioner (who holds all secondary grow their school improvement capacity
academies to account for outcomes in using the Department for Education’s
Doncaster) and Doncaster Metropolitan Multi-Academy Trust Development and
Borough Council to carry out granular Improvement Fund.
analysis that will inform development
and implementation of a cross-borough • Build leadership capacity at all levels
secondary school improvement strategy. – we will boost teacher retention and
The strategy will set out how we will: leadership capacity by supporting teachers
to progress in their careers and in turn
9 In addition to these schools, we will also support those schools who do not currently have an Ofsted rating but under their predecessor school
were rated as ‘requires improvement’ or ‘inadequate’.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 33Our priorities
What we will do
allow the secondary school network to • Improve subject specific leadership
increase the number of strong leaders at and pedagogy models in English,
every level. We will support secondary maths, and science, as core subjects
schools to access fully funded places on critical to many progression routes.
the newly accredited National Professional Through the data analysis exercise,
Qualification (NPQ) training, with a strong we will identify good teaching and learning
focus on developing middle leaders, as practice in each of these subjects that can
well as promoting take up of training be used to develop and deliver subject
programmes that develop leadership skills specific training to specialist teachers
at all levels. and subject leaders. Support through
the CDP offer will be targeted based on
• Create a comprehensive CPD offer the outcomes of peer-to-peer curriculum
available to all Doncaster’s secondary reviews that all secondary schools will
school teachers – to help retain talented participate in, with support from expertise
teachers in the area and to ensure more within maths hubs and science learning
children experience great teaching we partnerships to upskill those carrying
will ensure there is a package of high out the reviews. The curriculum reviews
quality training for schools in Doncaster to will identify schools and departments
access. This will include the existing offer that need additional support to improve
of whole-school leadership development pupil attainment and progress, as well
from Teach First and physics CPD being as capturing good practice. Following
delivered by the Institute of Physics – the curriculum reviews, we will provide
both funded through the Teaching and schools with a training bursary to match
Leadership Innovation Fund (TLIF). We fund the cost of additional training
expect the schools facing the greatest needed where it cannot be sourced via
challenges to access this support and we other funding mechanisms. While all
will help ensure resource reaches those secondary schools will be encouraged to
who needed it the most. At a stakeholder participate in this programme, the core
event designed to get feedback on our priority will be to support those schools
priorities, a structured, borough-wide CPD with the weakest outcomes and greatest
offer was identified by school leaders and gaps for disadvantaged pupils in these
multi-academy trust CEOs as a priority three subjects.
area of need.
34 Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery planOur priorities
Our 2018 activity will include:
• We will invite all secondary schools to • We are working with Teach First to double
participate in curriculum reviews in English, the number of graduate placements
maths and science, drawing on expertise working in Doncaster’s secondary
within the multi-academy trusts operating schools from September 2018 as part of
in Doncaster schools to identify good a wider strategy to increase the number
practice that can be shared across the of specialist teachers in post across
borough and aspects of teaching and the borough.
learning that could be improved.
• We will prioritise leadership development,
• We will work with all secondary schools targeting a fully funded package of at
to develop a shared inset opportunity for least 80 NPQs at existing and aspiring
teacher training and network building for secondary school leaders.
subject specialists. The opportunity will
also be used to launch the curriculum
reviews and deliver CPD to staff.
Our targets for 2020/21 are:
• 700 more secondary pupils, who are at least 40% of young people
eligible for free school meals, are able to secure a level 5 pass in
access a place in a mainstream secondary English and maths.
school rated good or outstanding.
• 240 more young people
• In 80% of mainstream secondary schools achieve the EBacc element of science.
Doncaster Opportunity Area – delivery plan 35You can also read
