Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted and were noted as documented above.

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

Councillor Carwyn Jones declared a personal but not prejudicial interest with regard to item 6 on the agenda due to his role as a lecturer at Coleg Menai. As the matter under discussion was solely an engagement report and had no impact on his position, the interest remained personal.

No urgent matters at the time of dispatch of this agenda.

None to report.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 29 April 2025.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 29 April 2025 were presented for confirmation.

It was resolved that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Executive held on 29 April 2025 be confirmed as correct.

To submit the report of the Head of Democracy.

The report of the Head of Democracy incorporating the Executive’s Forward Work Programme for the period from June 2025 to January 2026 was presented for confirmation.

The Head of Democracy updated the Executive on the one change to the Forward Work Programme which was the addition of the Schools Digital Strategic Plan to the Executive’s 21 October 2025 meeting agenda.

It was resolved to confirm the Executive’s updated Forward Work Programme for the period June 2025 to January 2026 with the one change outlined at the meeting.

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

The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People on the outcome of the public engagement on the future of post-16 education provision on Anglesey was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

Councillor Dafydd Roberts, Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language presented the report explaining that the review and potential restructuring of post-16 education provision on Anglesey was identified as a key consideration within the Council’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Strategic Outline Programme and its  Modernising Learning Communities and Developing the Welsh Language Strategy. The Council undertook a public engagement exercise on the future of post-16 education provision from 20 January to 7 March 2025, details of which are included in the report. Rather than holding a formal consultation  at this stage – given the absence of a specific proposal, the Council opted for engagement to involve more stakeholders and to have a broader conversation in order to understand different perspectives and opinions. The feedback collected will be used to guide the Council’s next steps and decision-making regarding post-16 education provision.

Councillor Dafydd Roberts highlighted the positive nature of the process which produced a total of 779 responses. Notably,  30% of the responses came from learners and young persons aged 16 to 21 with a preference expressed for retaining the post-16 provision  with each of the existing providers.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People confirmed that the Council’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Strategic Outline Programme and its Modernising Learning Communities and Developing the Welsh Language Strategy acknowledge the need to review the current post-16 education provision model to ensure the system is sustainable, efficient  and responsive to learners’ experiences. The report also highlights  current challenges within the post-16 education sector including class sizes, demographic changes and financial viability. As part of the engagement exercise a range of options were presented and stakeholders were also invited to propose alternative solutions. A majority of respondents agreed that a review of post-16 education provision is necessary, with 79% expressing a preference for provision to remain with each of the existing providers. For both general respondents, and for young people, the key priorities for the future of post-16 provision are local availability, quality of teaching and the availability locally of a variety of  subject choices. Considering the feedback from the public engagement, the recommended approach is to further develop a closer working relationship between the existing providers  and for officers  to prepare a strategic plan to support this direction. The plan will also seek to address or mitigate the challenges currently facing post-16 education provision on Anglesey and strengthen post-16 learner entitlement and experience. This vision forms  part of the broader ambition of ensuring education provision of the highest quality possible on the Island for current and future generations.

Councillor Sonia Williams, Vice-Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee provided an update from the committee’s 21 May 2025 meeting where the Engagement Report on Post 16 Education Provision had been reviewed. The committee had noted that the post-16 education provision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

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

The report of the Director of Education, Skills and Young People which sought the Executive’s approval for the proposal to relocate Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi learners to a new school building for 11-18 year old learners and conduct a statutory consultation thereon was presented for consideration.

Councillor Dafydd Roberts, Portfolio Member for Education, Skills and Young People presented the report and he explained that the Council’s Strategic Outline Programme (Sustainable Communities for Learning) which is a rolling nine year plan sets out the schemes identified for capital investment and delivery over the period. However, the widespread presence of RAAC concrete in the Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi school building means the situation needs to be addressed in the short or near term. Following changes in UK guidance in August 2023 on RAAC, extensive remedial work has been undertaken to safeguard the school structure in the medium term, but a long-term solution is required. The proposal paper presents the outcome of work to explore a range of options for the future of Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi  and has been drafted in line with the expectations of the revised School Organisation Code (O11/2018).

Councillor Dafydd Roberts noted that if approved for statutory consultation, the proposal to relocate the school’s learners to a new building could mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the school.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People affirmed that the proposal complies with   the revised School Organisation Code and aligns with the Council’s commitment to improving schools and creating  modern learning environments that support communities and the Welsh language. The proposal involves relocating Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi learners to a new school specifically designed for the 11- 18 age range with capacity for 900 pupils. In developing the proposal the Council considered a number of factors as outlined in the paper with the primary driver being the condition of the current school building - classified as Grade C (operational but in need of major repair or replacement in the short to medium term). The current and projected future maintenance costs for the existing school building amount to nearly £29m. While alternative options for the future of Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi were considered, as detailed in section 6 of the report, relocating the school’s learners to a new purpose built school for 11-18 year olds is considered the most effective solution  to the challenges facing the school. The cost implications are set out in section 7 of the report.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People described this as an exciting period, presenting an opportunity to establish a modern school that complements and supports contemporary teaching and learning practices, benefiting both staff and pupils. The proposal addresses the challenges regarding the school building’s condition, particularly  RAAC and could lead to long-term savings in repair and maintenance costs over the next 25 years if implemented through the Welsh Government’s Mutual Investment Model. Additionally, it also supports the objectives of the Strategic Outline Plan. Under the revised School Organisation Code, relocating a school  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.