Measuring Impact in Measuring Impact in Walsall’s New Deal AreaWalsall’s New Deal Area (Turning Evidence into Strategy)(Turning Evidence into Strategy)

Bob MarshBob Marsh

Schools in the New Deal Area

• Blakenall Heath Junior• Bloxwich CE JMI• Christ Church Primary*• Elmore Green Primary*• Green Rock Primary• Harden JMI• Leamore Primary*• Little Bloxwich CE*• St. Peter’s RC Primary*• Sunshine Infant & Nursery• The Walsall Academy (11-18)• + 4 other High Schools

Basic Information Needs in 2004

• Data available for schools, not New Deal pupils

• Information always late for PMR

• Information on trends for whole Borough – need for more explicit data

• Need to confirm New Deal pupils position relative to that of schools – do schools know their New Deal pupils? (yes and no)

What we have done?

• Engage with Education Walsall

• Produced Performance and Attainment Booklet for New Deal primary schools .

• Comparative data about schools.

• Performance data at KS1 and KS2.

• Attainment plotted against particular features (SEN or FSM).

• Value Added Scores.

New Deal Interventions

• Issues of number of schools and appropriateness of interventions led to School Improvement funds for Primary and Secondary;

• Homework and Holiday Clubs to add support – issues of links with SIPs (aim to be a solution, not a further problem);

• Pre-NEETs project with Education Business Partnership;

• Adult and Community Learning projects X 3;• Research and Data projects.

Primary School Initiatives

Key Issues

• Fit with School and LA targets;• Schools knowledge of “New Deal pupils”;• Associative links / Causal Links;• Data swings with small samples;• Un-provenanced “Administrative Data”• Academy chooses not to engage;• Lack of Data for ACL;• Reductions in Adult Funding challenges

sustainability.

Points to Ponder...

• Are New Deal initiatives, other than those delivered in schools, having an effect on pupil performance?

• Can gains in pupil attainment at school be put down to New Deal intervention, or are they a result of National Strategies, Intensive Support Programmes or other initiatives, generally

available to schools?

Taking things further...

• Pooling resources for the appointment of an additional data officer.

• Use ‘virtual grouping’ on Pupil Achievement Tracker, to drill down to pupil level conversion rates.

• Following up New Deal children in non New Deal schools.• Track post 11 and post 16 destinations. Linking with

another New Deal to compare results and share methodology• Apply initiatives more effectively as a result of learning.• Help the New Deal Board to consider Education gains

alongside effectiveness of all New Deal strands.

Celebration of Achievement for Adult Learners

Measuring Impact in Measuring Impact in Walsall’s New Deal AreaWalsall’s New Deal Area (Turning Evidence into Strategy)(Turning Evidence into Strategy)

Bob MarshBob Marsh