Agenda and draft minutes

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Contact: Wyn Richards, Scrutiny Manager and Head of Democratic Services 

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Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors B Davies, T Van-Rees, D Jones and from County Councillors K Roberts-Jones, D Meredith, M Williams and P Davies (Portfolio Holder for Education and Property) who left the meeting due to other Council business.

 

Apologies were also received from Lynette Lovell (Interim Chief Education Officer) and Geraint Rees (Education Consultant).

2.

Disclosures of interest

To receive any disclosures of interest by Members relating to items to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest from Members relating to items for consideration on the agenda.

3.

Declarations of Party Whip

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:

The Committee did not receive any 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.

4.

Llanfihangel Rhydithon CP School pdf icon PDF 411 KB

To receive and consider the report of the Portfolio Holder for Education and Property and to make observations / recommendations to the Cabinet for consideration.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Documents Considered:

·                 Report of the Portfolio Holder for Education and Property – Llanfihangel Rhydithon C P School.

 

Issues Discussed:

·                 Consultation undertaken to close the school following the decision of the Cabinet. The Committee was asked to consider the proposal to be considered by the Cabinet.

 

·                 Questions:

 

During the consultation there was a change in the information around the Cylch Meithrin at Dolau which is maintained. Was Estyn informed there was a Cylch Meithrin on the site and whether they responded to that.

No Estyn have not been informed as this information came to light during the consultation.

In your opinion would this be likely to change their response.

Officers cannot comment on behalf of Estyn.

Concerned about the rigour around the process which has taken place.

 

Have revisited the Cabinet paper in February and compared that to the current report. Also conscious about the WESP conversations which the Committee had recently.

 

The report states that the review has been carried out in accordance with the rural schools code. What is concerning is the lack of demonstrable listening and subsequent modification of the recommendations as a result of the consultation which you might expect to see. The recommendations to Cabinet now are no different to those in February, so some may consider this as no more than a tick box exercise which we should be avoiding. We need to demonstrate that we are listening but substantiating the original proposals. Estyn's comments do not endorse the Council's approach and the Council should reflect on this. Should the Council be looking at some other options as there is no evidence of this in the paper. The Council is not considering options and then explaining this in the responses to consultation comments.

The case for closure has a number of strands but it is unclear if they all are of equal weight or are some of greater significance in making the case. This could be explained in a clearer way.

 

With regard to the shared leadership with Llanelwedd School this is a temporary arrangement which has been in ongoing for 6 years. One reason for closure is to give pupils the opportunity for a permanent head. Option 2 i.e. the status quo is the two schools working together. This does not consider the formalising of this position under federation.

 

Figures for the costs may not be accurate and could officers clarify the savings of having a shared headteacher and the additional transport costs following closure. Therefore, what is the cost per pupil.

 

Combined classes and delivery of the curriculum - schools have been invited to develop the new curriculum, but there is no independent evidence that combined classes and pupil challenge are detrimental.

 

Other schools are at capacity and some are exceeding their capacity e.g. Llanbister when Crossgates has empty places.

 

Concerns have been raised about the lack of clarity regarding Ysgol Calon Cymru, Builth and its feeder network. Officers agreed there are issues including the sufficiency of numbers of pupils learning in Welsh.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.