To receive a Presentation on the findings of the Monitoring Team.
Minutes:
The Mayor welcomed Mr Iwan Roberts and Mr Huw Davies HM Inspectors with Estyn to the Meeting.
Mr Roberts addressed the Council and referred in detail to the letter dated January 2016 in relation to the Estyn Monitoring Visit 30 November to 4 December 2015.
Councillor G Lewis entered the Meeting at 5.34 pm.
Mr Roberts outlined:
· The Outcome of the Monitoring Visit
· Background to the Visit
· Role of Estyn following on from the Inspection
Mr Roberts then advised that he would focus on the key messages in the letter and referred to the following in detail:
Recommendation 1: Secure better outcomes for learners at all key stages and analyse and use performance data to identify and address underperformance
The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation
Recommendation 2: Strengthen the level of challenge to schools and use the full powers available to the Authority to improve leadership and management in underperforming schools
The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation
Recommendation 3: Devise and apply better strategies to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training and build upon existing strategies to reduce the number excluded from school and improve pupil attendance rates, especially in primary schools
The Authority has made satisfactory progress in addressing this recommendation
Recommendation 4: Develop a robust self-evaluation framework for the work of the Local Authority’s Education Services and introduce appropriate and challenging performance targets that drive improvement
The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation
Recommendation 5: Develop a more rigorous Scrutiny framework, supported by data analysis to challenge the Education Services
The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation
Recommendation 6: Ensure that data on the needs and attainment of all pupils with additional learning needs, and of vulnerable groups, is used at a strategic level to identify specific issues and trends that inform service planning
The Authority has made satisfactory progress in addressing this recommendation
Recommendation 7: Evaluate the impact of Youth Support Services in order to adjust the provision and rebalance resource allocation where necessary
The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation
Recommendation 8: Develop and implement systems to judge whether initiatives and services have a positive impact on children and young people and offer good value for money
The Authority has made strong progress in addressing this recommendation
· Next Steps
Mr Roberts then thanked the Council for the opportunity of presenting and also referred to the Link Inspectors.
Council Members then raised the following questions on the Presentation and were responded to in detail by Mr Roberts:
· In 2012 there was Systematic Failure- were the Inspectors confident that this had now been replaced with Systematic success
· Were the Inspectors confident that the level of challenge could be maintained and sustain progress
· With the high expectations for learners was there the same cultural expectation for learners
· What impact will the new curriculum at KS4 have on the exams in 2017 Is there a reliable indicator that pupils are prepared for their future lives
· Is there a link with the Inspections and other similar Councils in Wales. Is it the same throughout Wales
· How are the outcomes being challenged. Is the level of challenge the same for the Consortium
· The role of the Link Inspector. Is there scope for a broader role to help deliver professional standards
Councillor L Mytton left the Meeting at 6.28 pm.
Councillor H R Jones left the Meeting at 6.30 pm and returned at 6.37 pm.
Councillor B Toomey Leader then thanked Mr Roberts and his colleagues for addressing the Council and reflected on the past three years.
The Mayor also thanked Mr Roberts and Mr Davies for attending the Meeting.