Venue: Council Chamber - County Hall. View directions
Contact: Elizabeth Patterson 01597 826980 Email: elizabeth.patterson@powys.gov.uk
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Apologies To receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Bryn Davies, Les George, Diane Jones-Poston, Iain McIntosh and Edwin Roderick, Parent Governor Representative Sara Davies, and Church Representative Margaret Evitts.
Parent Governor A Davies.
County Councillor M Alexander (Portoflio Holder for Education and Welsh Language)
Officers: I Budd (Director for Education), A Clark (Head of Learning), E Towns (Senior Challenge Advisor), L Lovell (Senior Challenge Advisor), E Palmer (Head of Strategic Policy and Performance) and E Patterson (Scrutiny Officer) |
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Declarations of interest To receive declarations of interest from Members. Minutes: The following declarations of interest were made in respect of Members who are School Governors. Members who are Local Authority appointed School Governors are granted an exemption under the Members’ Code of Conduct to take a full part in discussions excluding regulatory type matters. Members who are appointed as School Governors otherwise than through the Council have a similar dispensation to take a full part in discussions excluding regulatory type matters.
Mark Barnes Penygloddfa Primary School, Newtown High School Graham Breeze Welshpool High School Kelvyn Curry Rhayader C in W Primary School E.Michael Jones Radnor Valley Primary School Gareth Jones Llanfair Caereinion Primary School Karen Laurie-Parry Archdeacon Griffiths Primary, Gwernyfed High School Sue McNicholas Ysgol Bro Tawe, Ysgol Maesydderwen Jeremy Pugh Builth Wells High School Pete Roberts Cefnllys Primary School Lucy Roberts Bryn Hafren Primary School, Llanfyllin High School Gwynfor Thomas Llanfyllin High School Angela Davies Rhayader C in W Primary School, Interim Governing Body - Ysgol Calon Cymru
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Declarations of Party Whips To receive disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011.
(NB: Members are reminded that under Section 78 Members having been given a prohibited party whip cannot vote on a matter before the Committee.) Minutes: There were no disclosures of prohibited party whips which a Member has been given in relation to the meeting in accordance with Section 78(3) of the Local Government Measure 2011. |
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To authorise the Chair to sign the minutes of the following meetings as correct records: · 18th June 2018 · 25th June 2018 · 29th August 2018 Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair was authorised to sign the minutes of the meetings held on the 18th June 2018, 25th June 2018 and 29th August 2018 as correct records. |
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Provisional Learner Outcomes, Attendance and Exclusions 2018 PDF 130 KB To receive a briefing on the Provisional Learner Outcomes, Attendance and Exclusions 2018. Additional documents: Minutes: Documents: · Briefing on Provisional Learner Outcomes, Attendance and Exclusions 2018 · Additional information requested and provided on Key Stage 5 results (included in minutes under section on Key Stage 5)
Introduction
The Director introduced the paper explaining that the Learner Outcomes report is part of the performance management cycle within the Schools Service. This data (provisional and then final) will feed into the self-evaluation report and inform the school’s improvement plan.
The information was sourced from teacher assessments at Foundation Phase (FP). Key Stage 2 (KS2) and Key Stage 3 (KS3) and from public examinations for Key Stage 4 (KS4) (GCSEs) and Key Stage 5 (KS5) (A Levels).
On the main GCSE indicator (L2+ - 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C including English/Welsh and Maths), on provisional results Powys has come top amongst the ERW authorities and second in Wales. Whilst this is encouraging the service are not complacent and there is more to be done particularly in regard to Key Stage 5 outcomes. Student numbers have fallen to the point where only 3-4 A level centres are viable and there will be a challenge of working with communities to ensure that an appropriate level of subjects are available for study at Key Stage 5 and students gain good outcomes.
During the last year 8 schools have been removed from and Estyn Category including 5 in Special Measures and 2 schools which were causing concern have been placed in an Estyn Category. The next challenge, which will be included in the self-evaluation and school improvement plan) will be to know Powys schools so well that they get the support and challenge they need and are not in a position where they are place in a category.
The Portfolio Holder observed that the positive changes would have been achieved with the schools working closely with school improvement teams and implementing agreed interventions. It is now necessary to focus on those schools still in an Estyn category and those schools that have headroom to improve.
Discussion:
Summary
It is noted that teacher assessment data will no longer be published. How will the service fill this gap? At a recent meeting between Welsh Government and Elected Members this change was raised as a concern as this is key evidence for scrutiny. The change has been brought about to overcome the unintended consequence of schools focussing on borderline pupils at the expense of other pupils. There will no longer be comparisons with families of schools which used proxy indicators such as Free School Meals (FSM) to determine similar schools. These proxy indicators had their own problems for example a low income area could have a similar low level of FSM as a high income area but the schools would face very different challenges. The teacher assessment data will no longer be used and at the autumn core visits attention will be paid to pupil progress and value added. There has been a national move from macro to micro data throughout Wales and Estyn are looking at ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Estyn Inspection Outcomes 2017-18 PDF 73 KB To receive a summary of the Estyn Inspection Outcomes and recommendations 2017-18. Additional documents: Minutes: Documents; · Summary of Estyn outcomes and recommendations from schools inspected between September 2017 and August 2018 prepared by the Scrutiny Officer
Recurring themes: Welsh oracy: The authority has introduced Siarter Iaith a Welsh Language Charter to improve Welsh language skills in all schools. All schools who are due an Estyn Inspection have at least the Bronze award of Siarter Iaith. The schools who have more links with voluntary groups such as the Urdd are less likely to receive this recommendation from Estyn.
Teacher assessments: The authority have a series of moderation meetings in place but this is one area which will need to be revisited.
Independent learning: The rollout of the new curriculum has identified some schools that spoon feed pupils more than others. This issue is covered during Core Visits.
Finance: This is an ongoing discussion.
Standards of Teaching: Certain methods can be put in place to improve standards of teaching for example teacher triads and lead support schools.
The Portfolio Holder noted that the issue of independent learning can be challenging as this is how teachers were taught to teach and is more of a challenge in traditional schools.
Discussion
It is noted that Crickhowell are preparing a Case Study. Is this good or bad? A case study is always positive and occurs when Estyn observe best practice in an area that is excellent and sustained.
This summary notes pleasing progress and it is positive that the recommendations highlighted can be answered but it is really disappointing that Brnllywarch Hall Special School has received an inspection which finds Well-being as adequate, needs improvement and Care, support and guidance as unsatisfactory and needs urgent improvement. The Director confirmed he had been shocked when he first visited Brynllywarch Hall Special School. He had taken Cabinet Members to visit and had arranged immediate interim improvements to health and safety issues which were put in place last autumn. There had also been a mismatch in the expectations of learners and provision both from the school and local authority. A specialist advisor has been brought in. The Inspection report had been published in March 2018 and whilst much work has been done there is still a long way to go. Authority has been given for a new school to be built but further work is needed on the curriculum offer and behaviour strategies. Governors had not picked up on some of the educational shortcomings as they had been deeply focussed on managing the poor physical state of the building. The Portfolio Holder noted that whilst it was not an excuse there had been an increase in poor behaviour. The school did have residential provision which was closed due to health and safety concerns. The current Head Teacher would like to be in a position to offer emergency residential care in the future. It was confirmed that parents were receiving communication regarding the post inspection process.
Cllr E M Jones left 1.30pm
Are the schools service satisfied with progress in addressing ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Chair's Briefing To receive a verbal update from the Chair of Learning, Skills and Economy Scrutiny Committee. Minutes: The Chair advised that he was in discussion with the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer regarding a recent Portfolio Holder decision over which he had some concerns. If he considered a call-in was appropriate it would be necessary to call a meeting of Learning, Skills and Economy Scrutiny Committee within 10 days of the date of call-in. |
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Work Programme Forthcoming dates for this committee are: · 17/10/2018 Review of Pre-school provision and HOWPS Annual Report · 02/11/2018 Highways Asset Management Plan · 21/11/2018 Funding Formula Review – Post Consultation · 13/12/2018 ALN Review
Education Briefings: · 09/11/2018 School Organisation and Post 16 · TBC School Improvement Minutes: Forthcoming date for this Committee are: · 17/10/2018 Review of Pre-School Provision and HOWPS Annual Report · 02/11/2018 Highways Asset Management Plan · 21/11/2018 Funding Formula Review – Post Consultation · 13/12/2018 ALN Review
Education Briefings: · 09/11/2018 School Organisation and Post 16 · TBC School Improvement |