The Council recognises and applauds the work done by Council staff and the teaching profession, across a number of areas, which has resulted in Trafford being ranked, nationally, as the 20^th best performing Local Authority in the recently published report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. Whilst the focus is often on the very high educational achievements of Trafford schoolchildren and young people, this significant national position clearly shows that Trafford is also an excellent place for promoting social mobility, encouraging all disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential through our truly comprehensive educational offer.

The Social Mobility Index, which forms the basis for the ranking of Local Authorities, is based on comparing the chance that a child from a disadvantaged background will do well at school and then will go on to secure a good job, thus escaping from poverty. For many years, Trafford has prided itself in having both an excellent education offer, in its widest sense, and an impressive economic environment which then provides a whole range of high quality job opportunities, at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse.

The Council further recognises that our success in enabling all Trafford children to fulfil their potential is built upon the quality of our total educational offer, with 93.5% of pupils attending ‘good or better’ schools and 56.2% attending ‘outstanding’ schools. The Council is pleased to note that non-Grammar Schools in Trafford perform at a level above the national average and so Trafford’s high ranking in the Social Mobility Index demonstrates that social mobility is positively enhanced through both the selective education system and this Council’s continued investment in economic growth activity.

Consequently, this Council supports

(i)     Trafford’s role at the heart of the Conservative Government’s Northern Powerhouse; and

(ii)   our Grammar and High school system

both of which are driving increased social mobility and world class opportunity for all children in our borough.

(Note: As Chairman of an Academy Trust, Councillor Rigby declared a personal interest in this item and remained in the meeting during consideration of the matter.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“The Council recognises and applauds the work done by Council staff and the teaching profession, across a number of areas, which has resulted in Trafford being ranked, nationally, as the 20^th best performing Local Authority in the recently published report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. Whilst the focus is often on the very high educational achievements of Trafford schoolchildren and young people, this significant national position clearly shows that Trafford is also an excellent place for promoting social mobility, encouraging all disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential through our truly comprehensive educational offer.

The Social Mobility Index, which forms the basis for the ranking of Local Authorities, is based on comparing the chance that a child from a disadvantaged background will do well at school and then will go on to secure a good job, thus escaping from poverty. For many years, Trafford has prided itself in having both an excellent education offer, in its widest sense, and an impressive economic environment which then provides a whole range of high quality job opportunities, at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse.

The Council further recognises that our success in enabling all Trafford children to fulfil their potential is built upon the quality of our total educational offer, with 93.5% of pupils attending ‘good or better’ schools and 56.2% attending ‘outstanding’ schools. The Council is pleased to note that non-Grammar Schools in Trafford perform at a level above the national average and so Trafford’s high ranking in the Social Mobility Index demonstrates that social mobility is positively enhanced through both the selective education system and this Council’s continued investment in economic growth activity.

Consequently, this Council supports

(i)         Trafford’s role at the heart of the Conservative Government’s Northern Powerhouse; and

(ii)   our Grammar and High school system

both of which are driving increased social mobility and world class opportunity for all children in our borough.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“The Council recognises and applauds the work done by Council staff and the teaching profession, across a number of areas, which has resulted in Trafford being ranked, nationally, as the 20^th best performing Local Authority in the recently published report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. Whilst the focus is often on the very high educational achievements of Trafford schoolchildren and young people, this significant national position clearly shows that Trafford is also an excellent place for promoting social mobility, encouraging all disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential through our truly comprehensive educational offer.

The Social Mobility Index, which forms the basis for the ranking of Local Authorities, is based on comparing the chance that a child from a disadvantaged background will do well at school and then will go on to secure a good job, thus escaping from poverty. For many years, Trafford has prided itself in having both an excellent education offer, in its widest sense, and an impressive economic environment which then provides a whole range of high quality job opportunities, at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse. Given these factors, it is imperative that the Northern Powerhouse project and government policy more broadly retains local democratic oversight of our schools and education services.

The Council further recognises that we cannot be complacent and that educational inequalities in our borough have to be addressed if all our children are to have equal opportunities in life. Improving social mobility is all about ensuring every child has a healthy environment to live in with decent housing, a supportive community and the very best education we can offer. We have an excellent Local Education Authority (LEA) offering services to all our schools as well as a first class early years team, vital in identifying problems in those first five years. Our primary schools have some of the best results in the country – as do our academies and secondary schools – whilst our specialist Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, our youth offending team and youth service have all contributed to social mobility along with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) service and our excellent staff supporting looked after children.

Whilst mindful of the need to avoid this complacency Council is supportive of the work of all our schools – primary, secondary, specialist and academies – and of Trafford’s role in the devolution process, both of which are fundamental in tackling inequality which should be our number one priority as a local authority.”

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared lost. The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That the Council recognises and applauds the work done by Council staff and the teaching profession, across a number of areas, which has resulted in Trafford being ranked, nationally, as the 20^th best performing Local Authority in the recently published report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. Whilst the focus is often on the very high educational achievements of Trafford schoolchildren and young people, this significant national position clearly shows that Trafford is also an excellent place for promoting social mobility, encouraging all disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential through our truly comprehensive educational offer.

The Social Mobility Index, which forms the basis for the ranking of Local Authorities, is based on comparing the chance that a child from a disadvantaged background will do well at school and then will go on to secure a good job, thus escaping from poverty. For many years, Trafford has prided itself in having both an excellent education offer, in its widest sense, and an impressive economic environment which then provides a whole range of high quality job opportunities, at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse.

The Council further recognises that our success in enabling all Trafford children to fulfil their potential is built upon the quality of our total educational offer, with 93.5% of pupils attending ‘good or better’ schools and 56.2% attending ‘outstanding’ schools. The Council is pleased to note that non-Grammar Schools in Trafford perform at a level above the national average and so Trafford’s high ranking in the Social Mobility Index demonstrates that social mobility is positively enhanced through both the selective education system and this Council’s continued investment in economic growth activity.

Consequently, this Council supports

(i)         Trafford’s role at the heart of the Conservative Government’s Northern Powerhouse; and

(ii)   our Grammar and High school system

both of which are driving increased social mobility and world class opportunity for all children in our borough.