Agenda item

Estyn Inspections

·        To submit information regarding Estyn inspections undertaken.

 

·        To submit the Section 50 inspection report regarding Ysgol Llangaffo

Minutes:

           The relevant information regarding Estyn inspections undertaken at Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn and Ysgol Bodffordd was presented for the SACRE’s consideration. The information was noted.

 

           The Section 50 report with regard to Ysgol Llangaffo was presented for the SACRE’s consideration.

 

The Vice-Chair referred to the use of the term corporate worship (cyd-addoli) in the Welsh version of the Section 50 report whereas the English version makes reference to “collective worship” and he sought an explanation for the discrepancy between the two versions. He said that possibly as Ysgol Llangaffo is a Church in Wales school, legally speaking it could be ‘corporate worship’. The Vice-Chair highlighted the fact that the use of the correct terminology has been an issue over the years and that he was surprised that the Bangor Diocese has used an erroneous term in the Welsh version of the report in this case. He proposed that the attention of the Diocese of Bangor be drawn to the error and that it be asked to use the correct term for collective worship in Welsh i.e. “addoli ar y cyd” within the report to tally with the use in the English version of the report of the term “collective worship”.

 

The SACRE whilst acknowledging the report as comprehensive and informative in its contents and as attesting to the achievement of Ysgol Llangaffo, was agreed that the Diocese be made aware of the inaccuracy in the Welsh version with regard to the use of “collective worship”. 

 

Mr Christopher Thomas referred to the report as saying that “The school meets the statutory requirement for collective acts of worship”.  Given that the nature of the report speaks of “inspirational” with reference to collective worship it is a shame that it receives such a matter of fact comment as that quoted.  He stated that the report reads very well and should be congratulated as a whole.

 

The Primary Education Officer said that it perhaps reflects the standard inspection terminology used to describe such characteristics.

 

The Chair agreed that it was a positive report and he suggested and it was agreed by the SACRE that the letter to the Diocese of Bangor also acknowledges the reference within the report to collective worship as being inspirational.

 

The GwE Challenge Adviser referred to the extracts from Estyn inspection reports which the Primary Education Officer prepares for the SACRE and she said that particular attention is given to references within the reports to both collective worship and Religious Education. She said that she had also asked the Officer to check the reports for the section on local partnerships, and in instances where a reference is made to a chapel or a church, then that should also be highlighted as part of the SACRE’s scrutiny of those reports. That would enable representatives of the Religious Denominations on the SACRE to report back to their group that schools appreciate those links and to be able to work together with local religious communities.

 

It was agreed to note the Section 50 report on Ysgol Llangaffo.

 

Action:

 

The Primary Education Officer to write on behalf of the SACRE to the Diocese of Bangor:

 

           To acknowledge the report and the achievement of Ysgol Llangaffo   particularly with regard to its collective worship practice which is described as inspirational.

           To highlight the inaccuracy in the Welsh version of the inspection report in relation to the use of the term collective worship.

Supporting documents: