Agenda item

·       GwE Annual Report for the Isle of Anglesey : 2022/2023

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

·       Education Scrutiny Panel Progress Report

To submit a report by the Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel.

·       Education Scrutiny Charter

To submit a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People and the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer.

·          GwE Annual Report for the Isle of Anglesey : 2022/2023

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

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that he welcomed the report and the joint working with GwE has resulted in the majority of schools on Anglesey performing well. 

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People reported that the Local Authority works in a close and effective partnership with GwE.  GwE is the regional education consortium for North Wales and works in partnership with Anglesey’s Learning Service in terms of improving schools, sharing good practice, knowledge and skills, increasing local strengths and building capacity.  He noted that the report includes appendices on the Progress and Impact in Secondary and Special Schools; Progress and Impact in Primary Clusters and Data on Training and Support for Anglesey.  Priorities have been identified to be developed further in the secondary schools’ improvement plans as noted within the report. 

In considering the report, the Committee discussed the following main matters:-

• Questions were raised as to what are the standards within Anglesey’s  schools at present and to what extent does GwE’s work have an impact on standards in Anglesey schools.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that regular meetings are undertaken with GwE’s representatives to discuss the standards in every schools’, teaching and learning, leadership and other matters as required.  The schools’ evaluation processes are improving and GwE’s role focuses on leadership within the schools.  He noted that each schools have their own support plan which is based on the needs of the school and progress of these needs within the schools is discussed in regular meetings with GwE’s representatives.  He further said that the role of the Governing Bodies within the schools are imperative to process detailed information as regards to standards within the schools.  Mrs Sharon Vaughan, Senior Leader GwE’s (Secondary Schools) referred to the Secondary Sector and said that GwE meets with the leaders within the schools to support and plan improvements within the schools.  Each school visit each of the 5 secondary schools on the Island so as to gauge the standards within the schools which can identify the strengths and the areas that need to be improved.  Mrs Gwenno Jones, Senior leader GwE (Primary Schools) referred to the Primary Sector and said that work is undertaken to evaluate improvement priorities within the primary schools.  Groups of Headteachers meet on a regular basis together with school staff to discuss the improvements needed and to share good practices within each school.
• Reference was made to GwE’s report referring that ‘intensive support has been given to one secondary school on the Island to try to improve the quality and effectiveness of senor leadership.  They remain on the recovery journey and continue to receive intensive support.  In this school, although areas requiring development are correctly identified, the planning for improvement and culture for ensuring joint improvements are not strong enough.’   Questions were raised as to whether this was a fair criticism and what is currently been undertaken to improve the situation at this school.  The Director of Education Skills and Young People responded that every school that raises concerns receives specific support with an intensive support plan in place to view the areas that needs to be improved.  He further said that a multi-agency Board is established and the school reports on progress within the priorities identified for improvement and further support is put in place if required thereafter.  Mr Arwyn Thomas, Managing Director GwE highlighted the processes put in place by GwE to support the improvement required within the school.  He further said that other processes on a regional level will need to be put in place if no improvement are identified within the school. 
• Reference was made to the financial climate and pressure on the budget of local authorities in the future.  Questions were raised as to whether GwE will be looking at the central and administrative costs of GwE in order to safeguard frontline services to schools.  The Managing Director GwE responded that GwE has had continued cuts to their financial budgets over the last 10 years.  He noted that the support from GwE has been important to the Authority in the improvement within the Island’s schools .  He further said that the Estyn Inspection Reports have highlighted the support GwE has given to the Authority to improve the educational services within the schools.  Mr Thomas further referred that GwE has conducted numerous restructuring over the years to address financial challenges.  The implications of reducing the service afforded could have a detrimental effect on the improvements within the schools. Further questions were raised as GwE’s financial budgets will be reduced will GwE be able to afford the services currently afforded to the Local Authority?  Mr Thomas responded that a risk assessment will be undertaken to address any reduction within the budget and my result in the reduced support of GwE to the schools.
• Questions were raised as to what the main challenges faced by Anglesey schools, the Learning Service and GwE.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the main challenges are social challenges, behaviour challenges, attendance, complex special educational needs, effect of covid, change in attitude towards learning which are all national challenges. He further said that any financial cuts affecting schools will have challenges for schools in respect of staffing and ultimately on standards. Discussions will be undertaken with GwE to ensure that any budgetary reductions will have the minimum effect on the support given to the schools on Anglesey.
• Questions were raised as to why the Welsh Language standards differ from one school to another and whether there is room for improvement.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that there are challenges nationally due to the use of the Welsh Language in different schools.  He noted that each town and community have a different perspective in the use of the Welsh language.  He referred that the Authority has a Welsh Language Strategic Plan to meet the priority of Welsh Governments’ ambition to see the number of people able to speak the Welsh Language.  He noted that the schools are prioritising the Welsh Language with all schools bar two, placed in the highest Welsh Language category possible.   The Managing Director – GwE said that each primary school will need a transition plan for the transfer to secondary schools and the Welsh Language needs to be central to the transition plan.
• Questions were raised as to how the Learning Support Assistants are able to access training development as their contracts do not allow for non-contact time within schools at present.  The Managing Director – GwE responded that training to the HTLA’s is afforded to develop the needs of pupils with different needs.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People said that training is afforded through the Training programme of the Local Authority and the HTLA’s are able to progress with training development within their role in the classroom.
• Reference was made to the conditions of school building and especially to the RAAC concrete problems identified in two secondary schools on the Island.  The Chief Executive responded that a review of school building has been undertaken annually since 2020.  He noted that two schools were identified with RAAC concrete structural problems and both schools responded efficiently to the situation with putting different learning methods in place.  The RAAC concrete problem at the David Hughes Secondary School is not as bad as it is at Holyhead High School and mid and long-term solutions are currently being discussed.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People said that he wished to thank the staff at both schools in ensuring the continued learning of pupils is being undertaken.  Discussions have been undertaken with Estyn, WJEC and GwE so as to ensure support for the learning and teaching within these schools.

It was RESOLVED to accept the GwE Annual Report for the Isle of Anglesey : 2022/2023.

·     Education Scrutiny Panel Progress Report

Submitted – a progress report by the Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel.

The Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel, Councillor Gwilym O Jones said that this is the third progress report of the Panel which covers the period February – September, 2023.  He noted that the Panel met on seven occasions during this period and considered the following matters :-

·       Wales Additional Learning Needs Code;

·       Elective Home Education;

·       Self-evaluation – impact of the Education Scrutiny Panel’s work;

·       The Welsh in Education Strategic Plan : 2022-2032;

·       Schools placed in a category, requiring follow up or additional support from Estyn;

·       Developing Effective Collaboration – looking in detail at how the Learning Service creates the conditions for effective partnership working;

·       Model for Education Scrutiny – Education Scrutiny Charter;

·       GwE Annual Report for Anglesey : 2022/2023;

·       Scrutiny Panel work programme for the period May 2023- April 2024

The Director of Education, Skills and Young People said that he appreciated the work and support of the Education Scrutiny Panel to the Learning Service.

In considering the report, the Committee discussed the following main matters:-

·         Questions raised at to what other areas should the Panel be scrutinizing?  The Chair of the Panel responded that a Work Programme has been developed as was noted within the report.  The Scrutiny Manager said that the Panel will focus on Mental Health, Well-being, Safeguarding, Integrated Collaboration Model, Curriculum for Wales, Additional Learning Needs, Inclusion and the Voice of the Learner. 

·         Reference was made to GwE’s Annual Report and specifically to attendances and absences in schools and especially after the pandemic.  Questions were raised whether the Education Scrutiny Panel should consider absences in schools within their work programme.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that Well-being Officers and Inclusion Officers attend the Scrutiny Panel and the Panel has an item on their work programme in January 2024 to discuss attendance and absences in schools.

·         Reference was made to more parents electing home schooling for their children.  Questions were raised whether the Panel can review the home schooling provision.  The Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel said that the elective home-schooling has been considered by the Panel and continued monitoring of the matter will be undertaken.

·         Questions were raised as to what degree is the Scrutiny Committee satisfied with the direction of the Panel’s work?   The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee said that the work of the Education Scrutiny Panel has been recognized as an example of good practice nationally.  He noted that the added value of the scrutiny process within the Scrutiny Panel is evident from the progress reports that are submitted to the parent Committee.

·         Questions were raised as to what degree is the Panel aware of standards in individual schools and what monitoring arrangements are in place?  The Chair of the Education Scrutiny Panel responded that progress reports are submitted to the Scrutiny Panel by the Officer’s within the Learning Service on a regular basis.  Detailed discussions are undertaken within the Panel with Officer’s reporting in detail on different topics.

·         The Chair of the Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE) referred that the Education Scrutiny Panel undertakes scrutiny on religious studies and ethnics.  She questioned whether the Education Charter should refer to the Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education when the Scrutiny Panel discusses religious studies in schools and whether this is undertaken in other areas.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that SACRE is considered important within the Learning Service.  He said that discussion on SACRE would be advantageous within the Education Scrutiny Panel.

It was RESOLVED:-

·         To note the progress made during the last period in terms of the work of the Education Scrutiny Panel;

·         That significant progress has been made in terms of developing a revised scrutiny model for education issues as a basis for the work of the Education Scrutiny Panel and both parent committees.

·         Education Scrutiny Charter

Submitted – a report by the Director of Education, Skills and Young People and the Director of Function (Council Business)/Monitoring Officer in respect of the above.

The Portfolio Member for Education and the Welsh Language said that he welcomed the Education Scrutiny Charter which outlines as to the scrutiny process.

In considering the report, the Committee discussed the following main matters:-

·           Questions were raised as to what are the main drivers behind producing a  Scrutiny Charter for Education matters?  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the main drivers behind producing a Scrutiny Charter for Education is to create an effective scrutiny process which results in the Education Scrutiny Panel being able to challenge and support the Learning Service.  The Education Scrutiny Charter also responds to Estyn requirements within their Inspection Report of the Learning Service recently. 

·       Questions were raised as to what extent is the implementation of the Charter bound by financial implications?  The Scrutiny Manager responded that there are no financial implications bound to the implementation of the Charter.  The Charter is a basis for the scrutiny principles for the whole Council.

·       Questions were raised regarding the introduction of a Charter as a basis for the Scrutiny work of the Council is an additional element to existing local processes.  What arrangements are in place in other local authorities?  The Scrutiny Manage responded that there are other developments in the introduction of Scrutiny Charter within other authorities, however, they will focus on different priorities within their local authorities. 

·       Reference was made that there is no reference to SACRE Committee within the Education Scrutiny Charter.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that SACRE will be included within the Education Scrutiny Charter.

It was RESOLVED:-

·       To approve the Education Scrutiny Charter as a basis for the scrutiny of Education issues;

·         To note the aim of developing the document in due course as a general Scrutiny Charter across the breadth of scrutiny work undertaken by the Council.