History of BIP
BIP started as part of the Home Office ‘Street Crime Initiative’ based upon the perceived link between school exclusion, truancy and poor attendance with levels of anti-social behaviour and street crime in surrounding areas. Funding was initially provided for 34 Local Authorities to identify schools in working towards the national BIP Outcomes for improving behaviour and attendance. Further details about BIP are on the national website: www.dfes.gov.uk/behaviourimprovement/
Rotherham joined BIP in 2003/04 and selected 22 schools; primaries needed to be ‘feeder schools’ of the 4 comprehensives. Since then, each cluster has developed its own identity; Clifton and Thrybergh work closely with the local EAZs, Maltby cluster funds the multi-agency team at BEST and Rawmarsh School has developed as the FSES for Rotherham. BIP schools chosen in 2003/04 were:
In 2007/08 the budget for Rotherham BIP was £1,155,929, including £193,188 for Clifton Cluster, £265,740 for Maltby Cluster and BEST, £279,461 for Rawmarsh Cluster and the FSES, £180,315 for Thrybergh Cluster, and £237,225 for the Central BIP Team.
Impact of BIP
The impact of Rotherham BIP was initially monitored by a regional manager from PWC whose final assessment in 2006 was ‘green’, the highest judgement. Schools now account for their progress and use of funding to the local BIP Manager. Using qualitative and quantitative information from the start of BIP until the end of 2006/07, significant achievements for most Rotherham BIP Schools were:
- Higher attainment on English KS2 SATs closing the gap for BIP Primaries with local & national averages.
- GCSE results for BIP Secondary Schools have risen more quickly than local or national averages.
- 3 years of no primary permanent exclusions. General reduction in fixed term exclusions and fewer days lost to exclusion. Good systems developed in general for providing supervised education.
- Positive effect of SEAL on the ethos in primary schools and better systems for identifying pupils at risk.
- Multi-agency support emphasised and developed for vulnerable pupils.
- High levels of attendance in primary with most BIP schools above national FSM median levels. Truancy patrols have helped to identify pupils ‘at risk’ and missing from education.
- Strong models of cluster co-operation have developed as well as regular sharing of good practice.
- External recognition for a number of schools for their achievements and progress with positive Ofsted Inspections, Leading Aspect Awards & gains in attainment.
Challenges remaining for a number of BIP Schools are:
- Continue raising attainment in the core subjects to reach local and national primary school averages with all schools above the national ‘floor targets’ for English and Maths.
- Continue narrowing the gap in GCSE attainment for secondary schools with local and national averages.
- Further develop appropriate responses for those pupils with the most challenging behaviours.
- Raise overall attendance to FSM median levels & reduce persistent absence for Secondary Schools.
- Reduce the average length of exclusion where appropriate