Agenda and minutes

As noted above.

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

None received.

To submit, for confirmation, the minutes of the special meeting held on 24 January, 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January, 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 Head of Learning reported that the main purpose of the report is to discuss the schools standards progress 2015/16 academic year.  It is expected that Anglesey should rank 10^th out of the 22 local authorities in Wales with regard to performance indicators set out be Estyn.  

Mr. Elfyn V. Jones, GwE  - Senior Challenge and Support Adviser gave an overview of the performance with regard to the whole of the National Curriculum for Wales key stages of the local authority. 

Foundation Stage Assessment

The main indicator for the Foundation key stage is disappointing as Anglesey has fallen below the target in each category in comparison to National performance levels; this places the local authority significantly lower than expected for the 2015/16 academic year.  However, he noted that during the Estyn Inspections to various schools these target levels were not highlighted as concerns. 

The Chief Executive referred to the data presented to the Committee which stated that Anglesey Schools, in the foundation stage was 21^st out of 22 local authorities with regard to the Welsh language.  He expressed regarding the validity of the assessment.  He said that every effort should be made to ensure that end of foundation phase assessments were valid and reliable.

Key Stage 2 Assessment

The key stage 2 performances is lower than in 2015 but is still 2.7% above the targets set with Anglesey 9^th of all the authorities in Wales. 

Key Stages 3 and 4 Assessment

The key stage 3 performance is higher in Anglesey than the Wales benchmark set by Welsh Government. 

There are positive aspect with regard to the performance of key stage 4 performance on Anglesey but the Senior Challenge and Support Adviser expressed disappointment overall as the secondary schools are in a slightly in a lower position in most of the key indicators as the national increase has been higher.   None of the 5 secondary schools on Anglesey have achieved the 70% threshold above the main indicators set by Welsh Government however 3 secondary schools achieved this in Welsh, English and Mathematics.  

Members raised the following matters:-

·      Questions referred to the fact that the Corporate Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held in February, 2016 were assured that processes for the assessment of children in schools and standardising data would be put in place together with  training being afforded for teachers to raise standards in the Island schools.   The Senior Challenge and Support Adviser responded that Challenge Advisors are now working differently in schools to improve standards within the various key stages. These individuals are currently training teachers and have been empowered to visit schools more frequently to tackle problems that have been identified.  Discussions have been undertaken with Headteachers with regard to the expected targets that have been set out this year and a more robust challenging programme has been set up to improve the performance in the key stage levels.  The Head of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

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

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

The Head of Learning reported that a School Progress Report Group was established in November 2012 which arose from recommendations made by Estyn on the quality of Education services for children and young people on Anglesey.  The aim of the Group is to assist the Education Service in improving the performance of schools on the island by increasing and developing local accountability for school performance and furnishing local members with the knowledge about key performance drivers and challenges that face schools on Anglesey.  The Review Group identified schools which they would like to review and the Head Teachers, Chairperson of the Governors and the relevant GwE (Regional School Improvement Service) Challenge Adviser were invited to attend to discuss attainment standards, inclusion issues, attendance and the management of resources which includes financial and management aspects.

The main messages from the School Progress Review Group for 2016 were as follows :-

·      Schools worked well with GwE and were complimentary about the quality of support provided.  All schools had evidence of using development/improvement plans to address areas of weak performance and prioritise actions to improve performance;

·      Schools worked well with other schools on the island in order to share good practice, but one school expressed disappointment at the effectiveness of the local scheme;

·      Under the Welsh Government’s colour-coded school ratings ranking system, some schools were categorised better than others, but all are committed to improve educational standards for all learners;

·      School representatives that attended the Review Group were open in identifying weakness in school performance and were able to provide a cogent explanation of why this was the case e.g., increase in the cohort numbers who have identified special needs, pupils with less developed Welsh language skills or vacant posts that needed to be filled;

·      Schools referred to recruitment difficulties in finding experienced teachers and head teachers to fill vacant posts.  Some schools had reservations concerning the possible introduction of a national recruitment agency to fill temporary posts, but others considered that the recruitment process was not at fault but was more of a reflection of a national problem concerning the limited pool of experienced teachers willing to fill vacant temporary posts and head teacher posts, particularly through the medium of Welsh;

·      Schools are well regarded in their community;

·      There remains support of religious education and its importance in developing positive social and behavioural values.

It was RESOLVED to accept the report and to continue with the work of the Schools Progress Review Group.

ACTION : As above.

To submit a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

The Economic Development Manager reported that the North Wales Economic Ambitions Board (NWEAB) was established to better co-ordinate strategic economic development activity on a regional basis in response to the pressures on public finances.  The regional co-ordination and delivery of employment and skills programmes is one of the key priority areas for the NWEAB.  The Skills and Employment Workstream of the NWEAB has been adopted and recognised by the Welsh Government as one of its three Regional Skills Partnerships across Wales.

The Chair welcomed Mr. Iwan Thomas, Regional Programme Manager – Skills and Employment from the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) to the meeting.  Mr. Iwan Thomas gave a presentation to the meeting on the North Wales Regional Skills and Employment Plan.  He highlighted that the aim of the NWEAB is to improve and upgrade the region’s skills base and provide employment growth in North Wales.  With the employment opportunities available on the island over the next ten years, employers will need to be further supported to drive a skills provision that respond to their needs.  Those seeking work need the skills to access sustainable employment, whilst those already in work need to be further supported to develop their potential to be able to compete for employment opportunities in different large projects being established on the island i.e. energy & environment sector, advanced manufacturing and materials, construction, creative and digital sectors, health and social care, tourism and hospitality and food & drink manufacturing. 

Mr. Thomas highlighted the regional challenges for skills and employment as :-

·           Addressing lack of succession planning by employers combined with ageing workforce in key sectors;

·           Retaining young people into sustainable employment within the region on completion of their studies;

·           Developing an adaptable regional skills brokerage model based on existing success delivered at North Wales Prison;

·           Increasing the uptake and promotion of STEM related subjects and skills aligned to employer demands;

·           Delivering regional skills solutions for transformative projects alongside promotion of local proximity;

·           Supporting sustainable development and innovation in our growth sectors to provide attractive career pathways.

Members raised the following matters:-

·           There is a need to encourage young people who have left the Anglesey to attend Universities and Colleges to return to potential employment opportunities afforded in North Wales and the Isle of Anglesey;

·           Môn Communities First needs to be included in the list of key partners of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board;

·           Job Fairs at secondary schools needs to be able to give advice to pupils as to the subjects they need to study to be able to compete for employment opportunities afforded in North Wales;

·           Whilst young people need to be aware that STEM subject are important for large developers in North Wales, business subjects need to be highlighted aswell i.e., Human Resources, Administration, Legal, Health & Social Care Sector, Tourism and Hospitality; 

·           Local firms need to be protected when potential large projects will materialise in North  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To note that a special meeting of the Partnership and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee is to be held on 15 March, 2017 at 2.00 p.m.

To note that a special meeting of this Committee is to be held on 15 March, 2017 at 2.00 p.m.