Agenda and minutes

As noted above.

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

None received.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November, 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 November, 2017 were confirmed.

To submit a report by the Head of Learning in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Learning in relation to the above.

The Senior Standards & Inclusion Manager reported that the percentage of statutory school age pupils who are eligible for free school meals in Anglesey over the last five years in comparison to Wales and individual authorities has reduced substantially and the authority has been placed in the 7^th most privileged in Wales.  This is a concern as the comparison does not equate to the local economy of the Island. It was noted that schools receive grants as per numbers of each child eligible for free school meals. 

The Officer referred to the table, within the report, which shows pupils on the additional learning needs register.  The authority has been placed in the 4^th LA position within the primary sector which again seems high in comparison to other local authorities in Wales.  She expressed that the matter needs to be given priority over the coming months as regards to additional learning needs criteria.  It has been shown that the number of pupils on the register for additional learning needs seems to reduce as the pupils move into secondary education as the authority has been placed 8^th LA position in Wales.   The Senior Standards & Inclusion Manager further referred to children that are educated at home and it seemed the Authority is categorised more favourably within this criteria.

The Chair welcomed Mrs Meinir Huws, Schools Challenge Advisor (Primary) and Mrs Sharon Vaughan, Schools Challenge Advisor (Secondary) to the meeting.  He said that both Officers have been reporting to the Scrutiny Panel – Schools Progress Review on a regular basis.

The Schools Challenge Advisor (Primary) gave a detailed analysis of the performance data drawing attention to the main aspects requiring attention to the Committee.

Foundation Phase

·           Setting higher expectations in the Foundation Phase and developing better resilience to school target setting, assessment and tracking procedures to close the gap between targets and performance;

·           Promoting better use of data and intervention programmes to drive the necessary improvements;

·           Continue to ensure better consistency across schools in relation to understanding of the ‘best-fit’ in setting final levels;

·           Improving pedagogy in the Foundation Phase with specific focus on improving planned opportunities to develop literacy/numeracy across the learning areas; ensuring activities with a high level of challenge; ensuring improved opportunities to apply skills and ensuring an improved balance between teacher/learner led tasks.

·           Raising standards in Welsh as a first language in the Foundation Phase;

·           Continue to develop schools’ ability to ensure a challenging approach to planning in improving performance, particularly at the higher levels;

·           Close the gap in performance of free school meals/non-free school meals pupils in the expected outcomes and in Welsh and Personal and Social Development in the higher outcomes;

·           Targeting support for schools where rolling performance has been in the lowest 50%;

·           Continue to work with the Local Authority Officers to improve the quality of leadership on all levels to ensure that not one school is put into statutory follow-up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To submit a report by the Managing Director GwE in relation to the above.

Submitted – the GwE Annual Report 2016/17 by the Managing Director of GwE.

The GwE Managing Director gave a detailed report on the Business Plan Priorities for 2017/18, together with an overview on educational standards across North Wales (2015/16).  He said that GwE is providing a range of professional learning programmes for practitioners ranging from Higher Level Teaching Assistants to experienced Head Teachers.  The Senior Challenge and Support Advisers for each hub operated much more effectively in quality assuring all aspects of the work of Challenge Advisers within the respective teams.  He reported further that improving standards and provision in the Foundation Phase is one of GwE’s priorities.  This year, GwE offered a regional Foundation Phase support programme for the first time, targeting planning, teaching, assessment and leadership.  The team of Literacy and Numeracy Challenge Advisers have provided an extensive range of support and development programmes across the region to ensure the quality of planning and provision in both primary and secondary sectors.  All schools in an amber or red support category have received a programme of support tailored their specific needs. 

He further said that pace of improvement in the Foundation Phase has been slower than that seen on a national level.  Raising standards in the Foundation Phase is a key priority for improvement for the consortium.  In general, the pace of improvement in the main indicators in Key Stage 4 has been too slow compared to the rest of Wales and improving its performance is the consortium’s main priority.  At Key Stage 4, the performance of individual local authorities varies considerably across the region.  He said that areas requiring development include :-

·           Robust business plans that respond more acutely to the development needs of authorities and individual schools and that have been discussed and agreed with stakeholders. 

·           That all secondary schools and all amber/red support category schools have appropriately support plans in place.

·           More effective deployment of subject Challenge Advisers and the use of subject networks to strengthen departmental collaboration.

·           To target individuals who have the potential to be Headteachers of schools and to afford a level of support for these individuals and to plan sooner when Headteachers are retiring to have the best possible individual to take their place;

·           To be at the forefront of challenges faced to address the new examination processes introduced by the government;

·           That Anglesey is able to be supported by the Challenge Advisors at both primary and secondary sectors.

The Committee considered the report and raised the following matters :-

·           Clarification was sought as to why there are still ‘red’ category identified schools whilst GwE have invested in Challenge Advisors to support these schools.  The Managing Director of GwE responded that ‘red’ category schools are targeted with support and guidance to help them achieve the best possible education for the pupils.  He said that some schools have received above their requirements and other schools have suffered as a consequence. 

·           Clarification was sought as to how the Authority was able  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To submit a progress report by the Chair of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel and Supporting Officers.

Submitted – a progress report by the Chair of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel and Supporting Officer in relation to the above.

The Chair as the Chair of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel reported that since the last progress report submitted to this meeting on the 14^th November, 2017, the Panel has met on four occasions.  5 primary schools and 1 secondary school has addressed the Panel.

The Panel concluded that there were 10 key matters that would need addressing to ensure schools continued improvement :-

·      Teacher and Headteacher workload

·      Teacher Recruitment

·      School Performance

·      Relationship between Schools and GwE

·      Indentifying Pupils with Additional Learning Needs

·      New Welsh Curriculum

·      Free School Meals

·      School Capacity

·      Welsh Language Skills

·      Basic skills

The Committee wished to express their appreciation to the Members of the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel for their in depth work as regard to the range of topics and the process used to challenge schools that have attended the Panel.  The Chair also wished to thank the two Schools Challenge Advisors and the Senior Standards & Inclusion Manager for their contribution to the Schools Progress Review Scrutiny Panel.

It was RESOLVED to note :-

·      That progress made to date with the work of the Scrutiny Panel : School Progress Review;

·      That work-streams pertaining to the Education Service Improvement Plan are being addressed;

·      That there are no matters that currently need to be escalated by the Panel to a decision making committee.

ACTION : As noted above.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer with regard to nomination of one Member of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee to serve on the School Progress Review : Scrutiny Panel.

The Scrutiny Officer reported that due to the resignation of Councillor Eric W Jones from the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee a Member from the Committee needs to be nominated as a replacement on the Scrutiny Panel.  It was noted that 4 Members of this Committee sit on the Scrutiny Panel : School Progress Review.

It was RESOLVED to nominate Councillor Kenneth P Hughes on the School Progress Review : Scrutiny Panel.

To submit a report by the Scrutiny Officer.

Submitted – a report by the Scrutiny Officer on the Committee’s Work Programme to May 2018.

It was RESOLVED to note the Work Programme to May 2018.

ACTION : As noted above.