Moseley School Parents & Community Association

Sir Bob Kerslake's review of governance & organisational capabilities of Birmingham City Circus

Key points from Sir Bob Kerslake's Review of governance and organisational capabilities of Birmingham City Circus (Sept 2014):

• 15 of the largest wards in the country are in Birmingham such as  Nechells (35,549), Bordesley Green (34,567), Washwood Heath (33,376), Sparkbrook (32,846), Springfield (32,191), Aston (32,151), Ladywood (31,920), Lozells and East Handsworth (31,742), South Yardley (31,262), Soho (31,082). See page / slide number 8.

• The demand for lower skill and intermediate skill jobs (plant and machinary operatives admin and secretarial roles) will fall by 6% and 8% respectively but the demand for higher skilled jobs will increase by 19% (corporate managers, professional and technical occupations). See page / slide number 32.

• Birmingham is an economic powerhouse with 190,000 people traveling into work in the city. See page / slide number 36.

• 32% of 16-year old school leavers are considered by their employer to be poorly or very poorly prepared for work. They lack working world / life experience / maturity and have a poor attitude / personality or lack of motivation. See page / slide number 36.

• Over 17% of residents in Birmingham have no formal qualifications. Three constituencies: Ladywood (22.4%), Hodge Hill (23.4%) and Erdington (23.9%) have the highest number of unqualified residents. See page / slide number 37.

• Percentage of pupils passing five GCSE subjects at grades A*-C including English and Maths for low attainment groups in Birmingham (see page / slide number 43):

  • White British boys on Free School Meals (~22%)
  • Black Caribbean boys on Free School Meals (~38%)
  • White British girls on Free School Meals (~44%)
  • Pakistani boys on Free School Meals (~46%)
  • Black Caribbean boys not on Free School Meals (~48%)
  • Pakistani boys not on Free School Meals (~52%)
  • Somali boys on Free School Meals (~53%)
  • Pakistani girls on Free School Meals (~54%)
  • White other boys on Free School Meals (~55%)

  The National Average for percentage of pupils passing five GCSE subjects at grades A*-C including English and Maths is 61%.

What conclusions can we draw from these statistics?

Far too many schools are failing far too many pupils, particularly pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Also the impact of having retired school head teacher Thelma 24% Probert OBE as a School Improvement Partner for six Birmingham schools cannot be understated. Would any school in Sutton Coldfield or Solihull have Thelma 24% Probert OBE as a School Improvement Partner? NO! So why was it allowed in inner city Birmingham schools?