To receive an update on Estyn reports.
Minutes:
Background: -
Primary Sector
A verbal update was provided on work undertaken in the last 2 years following previous Estyn inspections. During the pandemic inspections were suspended and re-commenced last year.
Ø Academic Year 2020-21.
o 9 Primary Schools inspected, of which 3 were requested to provide case studies of exceptional practice.
o Ysgol Llandinam was place in Estyn Review, this was not a statutory follow up category, and were removed from this category in July 2023 after having made strong progress against all recommendations.
Ø Academic Year 2022-23
o 8 Primary schools inspected, of which 2 were requested to provide case studies of exceptional practice.
o 2 schools were placed in Estyn Review, Forden and Radnor Valley. A meeting is scheduled for later this week, with Estyn, in respect of progress Forden School have made addressing recommendations.
o Leighton Primary school was placed in need of significant improvement in June 2023, a formal category of follow-up. Schools Service are working closely with the school to ensure that their post inspection action plan is in place and acted upon.
Special Schools
o In terms of Special schools there have been no core inspections since the pandemic, Ysgol Cedewain were placed in Estyn review in January 2020 and removed from that category in October 2023.
Secondary Sector
Ø 2 Estyn Core Inspections had taken place in All-age and Secondary Sector since the pandemic.
o Ysgol Calon Cymru was inspected in November 2022 and placed in Estyn Review.
o Newtown High School had an inspection in October 2023 and the report is due imminently.
Ø 2 Estyn monitoring visits have been undertaken.
o Brecon High School were in need of significant improvement, with a monitoring visit in November 2022, which resulted in categorisation of Special Measures.
o Gwernyfed High School received a monitoring visit in October 2022 and were also placed in categorisation of Special Measures.
Points raised by the Panel:
|
Responses received from Officers or Cabinet Members. |
From Forden schools perspective there were concerns with the Inspection. |
The Schools Service and SIA’s have worked with the school since Sept 2022 and were content with progress made to date, will discuss with Estyn. |
For the school placed in Special Measures what work is being undertaken to bring them out. |
Both schools concerned have a Post Inspection Action Plan (PIAP) in place. They have each received a PIAP visit from Estyn to agree the plan, they received half termly multi agency meetings including SIA, LA & Estyn working together to establish with the school what support is required to progress. The LA support is clearly identified within the PIAP. |
Were there any themes highlighted from Inspections |
Of the 3 Secondary Schools with recommendations, common themes were noted around teaching, improving the development of literacy and numeracy skills and improvement required in leadership and self-evaluation processes. In terms of Primary Schools last year there were 27 recommendation in Primary Schools in Powys. 13 were associated with elements of teaching, Autumn term reviews have focussed on these areas and provided challenge and support. |
Assurance sought that the Schools Service are working closely with and have enough capacity to support schools in preparation of the upcoming Spring inspections. |
Prioritisation has been given to support those schools facing inspections. With a strong focus on improving teaching and learning |
As the 4 purposes area pushed through the Secondary schools system how much emphasis have the Inspectors placed on the understanding of them in particular as improved teaching and learning are highlighted as common themes. |
Inspectors have focussed on progression of learners, encompassing all the elements in the Curriculum for Wales, all of which are taken in account to formulate judgements on whether teaching is having a strong enough impact on pupil progress and learning. |
Are Estyn as concerned as WG appear to be at ensuring the 4 purposes are embedded into the Secondary Education system. |
Estyn have mentioned the 4 purposes within the inspection documents. Estyn start with learners and progress then move onto how the teaching has impacted on that progress. |