Agenda item

To submit a 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 sixth progress report of the Panel which covers the period February – October 2025.  He noted that the Panel met on three occasions together with field work were Members attending schools during this period following the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review in July 2024.   He noted that the Panel considered the following matters:-

• Curriculum in Wales
• Self-evaluation of the Impact of the Education Scrutiny Panel
• Effective Transition – readiness to learn
• Corporate Safeguarding – schools’ contribution
• Improving Attendances
• Scrutiny Panel Work Programme for the period February 2025 – October 2025

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

·     Questions were raised whether the Education Scrutiny Panel will undertake a rolling programme of attending field work at every Primary and Secondary School on the Island.  The Chair responded that the Members of the Education Scrutiny Panel are dedicated in their attendance in undertaking field work at the schools. It was noted that financial resources that is available to schools is one of the main issues when the Panel attends the schools. The Director of Education, Skills and Young People said that the Members of the Education Scrutiny Panel were already undertaking visits to schools before the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review.  He anticipated that the Members would attend as many schools as possible in due course. However, Members will not visit the schools which they are Governors on those schools as part of their work. The Head of Democracy said that the Education Scrutiny Panel’s role is to consider the scrutiny themes and not having to attend every school. The Panel will review samples of those themes whilst visiting a particular school. 

·     Reference was made to attendance statistics specifically in Secondary Schools. Questions were raised if the attendance statistics would improve if pupils with reasons i.e. health issue, were to be removed from those statistics.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that the focus of the Education Scrutiny Panel is to review the service provided to schools to improve attendances.  Work is undertaken by the Welfare Officers to gauge the reasons for such absences from the schools.  He noted that it is appropriate for Governors to ask such questions at the School Governors Meetings.    The Learning Service also works closely with the Children’s and Families Team to support a child who is unable to attend school.  The Deputy Chief Executive said that there is a role for individual school to highlight and address concerns as to attendances at their schools. 

·     Reference was made to the field work undertaken by the Education Scrutiny Panel in attending schools.  It was considered that Members should be given the opportunity to attend the schools they are School Governors.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that Members, in their role as Governors, should be attending their own schools and participating in self-evaluation. This is good practice.

·     Reference was made that school staff are undertaking welfare work due to poverty within the schools.  The Director of Education, Skills and Young People responded that tackling poverty is a matter for everyone and School Governors need to consider their school’s priorities to mitigate poverty.  Discussion will be undertaken by the Learning Service with schools ascertaining their strategies in tackling poverty in the new year. 

·     Questions were raised whilst the Education Scrutiny Panel has scrutinised the work of the Learning Service, what assurances can be given that the service considers and acts upon the recommendations of the Panel on a practical level and whether there will be follow up reports outlining the steps that has been taken in response to the issues raised.   The Director of Education, Skills and Young People assured that matters raised by the Education Scrutiny Panel will be addressed and reported back to the Panel and the Portfolio Member.

·     Reference was made that whilst several issues have been raised at the meeting it would be advantageous for a Briefing Session to be arranged to address the issues raised. 

It was RESOLVED to note the progress made during the last period in terms of the work of the Education Scrutiny Panel.