Issue - meetings

To submit the report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People.

It was resolved to authorise the Officers to proceed with the federalisation process between Ysgol Goronwy Owen and Ysgol Moelfre.

The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People on the outcome of the consultation on the federalisation of Ysgol Goronwy Owen and Ysgol Moelfre was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People advised that following a request from the governing bodies of the Ysgol Goronwy Owen and Ysgol Moelfre in March, 2019 to conduct a consultation on establishing a federation arrangement between the two schools, meetings were held in April and May at Ysgol Goronwy Owen and Ysgol Moelfre respectively in order to consider the options and the consultation process. Following these meetings, it was concluded that federalisation was the best option for the two schools concerned and in May, 2019 the Executive authorised Officers to proceed to undertake a statutory consultation on the federalisation proposal. The consultation process ran for a period of 6 weeks from 3 June to 15 July, 2019 and produced no objections.  The very positive response received from the parents of both schools were complimentary of the leadership, staff and ethos at the two schools (Summary provided in the report and at Appendix 2).

In response to questions about the potential benefits of federalisation in terms of better financial efficiency and improved quality of education provision, the Schools Effectiveness Officer clarified that Ysgol Goronwy Owen and Ysgol Moelfre already work in a voluntary partnership which is monitored by a partnership group. Whilst the federalisation arrangement will not lead to any major changes, it will mean the continuation of the successful collaboration that currently exists. The two schools will run their own budgets and whilst it is not anticipated that federalisation will generate significant savings, it does bring advantages in the form of co-ordinating the best use of the two schools’ resources and teaching expertise. The greatest change under federalisation will mean the two schools being managed under a single governing body which will mean less pressure on the Headteacher and stability as regards the school’s leadership. The school councils also see advantages to the proposal from the perspective of shared trips and extra-curricular activities, making new friends and positive impact on sports, competitions and games.

It was resolved to authorise the Officers to proceed with the federalisation process between Ysgol Goronwy Owen and Ysgol Moelfre.