Agenda item

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

Submitted – a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People for consideration by the Committee.

The Deputy Leader, in the absence of the Leader of the Council, said that the purpose of the report is to provide an annual update on the progress made as regards to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People reported that the report is set out in three sections which highlights update on data, arrangements for the re-categorizing of Anglesey school in terms of language in accordance with national and non-statutory guidance and the latest development within schools and organisations on the Island.  He said that the Welsh language is one of the six strategic proprieties of the Council and is reflected within the Education Service so as to increase the provision for children and young people who study through the medium of Welsh.  He further said that regulations made under the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 requires local authorities to prepare a Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) which must include a requirement to ‘set a target outlining the expected increase during the lifespan of the Plan in the amount of Welsh-medium education provided in its maintained schools which provide education through the medium of both English and Welsh’.  WESP data reports on the position of Welsh in education on Anglesey over the period of June 2022 to June 2023.  The report notes the stability of outcomes 1,2,3, 5 and 6 and growth in outcomes 4 and 7 (the Anglesey’s WESP data for 2022/2023) was included within the appendices to the report.    The Director of Education, Skills and Young People referred to the School Categorisation process conducted over this year, and the Learning Service has mapped, informed the process and consulted with schools to steer the profile of Schools Categorisation.  He noted that the Learning Service has consulted on and discussed Language Categories with schools before coming to a decision on the category.  The Learning Service has 3 categories – Category 1 – English medium; Category 2 – Dual Language; Category 3 – Welsh medium.  All primary schools part from one and three of the secondary schools are in Category 3.  Since one of the intentions of the new regime of categorisation is to encourage Anglesey schools to increase their Welsh language provision, one primary school has been placed in Category 2 and two secondary schools are in a transitional sub-category T2 to facilitate the process for schools to move to Category 3. 

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People further referred to the early years’ ‘Makaton and Language Journey’ programme which was highlighted within the report.  He referred specifically to the guidance on the transfer of Year 6 language cohort information that all schools have received guidance, support and assistance to report on the language cohort of each pupil.  Reference was also given to the Anglesey language centre which have received recognition for their work by schools, through social media and on television programmes.  He expressed that the aim is to ensure that every child within the education system is bilingual and is able to communicate in Welsh and English.

In considering the report, the Committee raised the following matters:-

·     Reference was made as to the schools categorisation process and to what extent the schools categorisation data was accurate.  Questions were raised as to how thorough the process of assessing schools in respect of the  categorisation based on language skills? The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the categorisations data results from the discussions with each individual school together with the use of the language cohort information; information from the Co-ordinators from Gw is also used to monitor the data an annual basis. The Deputy Chief Executive said that the Estyn report on the Education Service highlighted that the Education Service has the necessary data and that the Authority has a good awareness of the schools on the Island;

·     Questions were raised as to how primary school children in Year 6 (who are categorised within Category 3) will be able to continue to receive their education through the medium of the Welsh language as two secondary schools are in Category T2.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that each individual pupils is assessed as regards to their Welsh language skills which is transferred to the language cohort information to the secondary schools and it is the responsibility of the secondary schools to provide the provision of Welsh medium education to the pupils.   Further questions were raised as to whether the secondary schools have the provision to enable to provide Welsh medium education with teachers able to teach through the medium of Welsh?  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the outcome of the WESP identifies as to how many teachers are able to teach through the medium of Welsh.  He noted that the recruitment of teachers in specialist subjects is a challenge but there was a small improvements within the schools last year;

·     Reference was made that the use of the Welsh language outside school hours is as important as the education of pupils within the schools environment.  Questions were raised as to whether the Education Service is able to support activities outside school hours when there is a decline in grant funding?  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that it is important that there are opportunities for children and young people to be able to enjoy and receive activities outside school hours through the medium of the Welsh language with afterschool clubs and activities afforded within the communities.  He noted that parents should be also be encourage to use the Welsh language within the home environment ;

·     Questions were raised as to what degree does the Language Centres fully respond to the Authority’s immersion needs?  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the Authority has two Language Centres for newcomers to receive timely immersion intervention.  Immersion grants are used to support the Learning Centres and this year, the use of grants has meant that immersion occurs through members of the centre at the secondary schools for the first time in some years.  36 children are supported during each term but there is a waiting list for access to the Learning Centres.  He expressed that supporting the Learning Centres is a financial challenge and a third Learning Centre would be welcomed so that children would not need to travel as far and would it would address transport costs.  The Committee raised that it has been reported that there is a waiting list for the Learning Centres and questions were raised as to the support given within the schools for these pupils that are awaiting access to the Learning Centres.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that learning packs are afforded to the schools where pupils are awaiting access to the Learning Centres and staff are afforded training sessions. Further questions were raised as to the support for pupils that attend the Learning Centres during the school holidays with some households not been able to speak the Welsh language and it is a challenge for schools to sustain the Welsh language for these pupils.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that he agreed that the summer schools holidays it a long period of time for pupils not speaking the Welsh language.  He noted that the Education Service has been working closely with the Leisure Centre who provide opportunities during the school holidays.  He further said that some schools will afford activities for pupils to during the school holidays;

·     Reference was made that it is noted within the report that 90% of teaching staff are able to afford Welsh medium education.  Questions were raised as to whether this percentage is misleading?  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the data is received from the schools following discussions with the teaching staff as to the percentage of staff that can teach through the medium of Welsh.  He reiterated that there is a challenge in the recruitment of specific subject teachers who are able to teach through the medium of Welsh;

·     Reference was made that the Urdd National Eisteddfod has been invited to Anglesey in 2026.  Questions were raised as to whether the invitation of the Urdd Eisteddfod to Anglesey in 2026 will enhance the willingness to speak Welsh and whether plans are in place to prepare for the Urdd Eisteddfod coming to the Island?  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that a public meeting is to be held at Corn Hir School to discuss arrangement in welcoming the Urdd Eisteddfod to Anglesey in 2026.  He noted that when such an event is invited to any County there is enthusiasm as regards to the culture and history of the area.  He further noted that Anglesey attained success recently at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Camarthenshire and schools in the tier 3 competed in the Eisteddfod.

It was RESOLVED :-

·         To note the update on Anglesey WESP 2022-2023 data and the propose method of sharing this information;

·         To confirm arrangements to re-categorise Anglesey schools in line with national non-statutory guidelines.

ACTION : As noted above.