Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Education which was presented to provide opportunity for Members to scrutinise exclusion data for Blaenau Gwent at Primary and Secondary schools for the academic year 2018/19.

The Service Manager for Inclusion spoke to the report and highlighted the main points contained therein.

Councillors John C. Morgan and Steve Thomas left the meeting at this juncture.

In response to a Member’s question regarding the reason for exclusions under the ‘Other’ category, the Service Inclusion Manager felt that there should not be an ‘Other’ category as it showed no clarity for the reason for exclusion.

A Member enquired if there was a link between the decrease in exclusions and the examination results and referred to the comparative data with Blaenau Gwent rated 13 out of 22 for 5 days or less exclusions.  The Director of Education said that figures compare favourably particularly in KS4.  The Service Manager for Inclusion said that persistent disruptive behaviour was one of the main reasons for exclusions and there was an ongoing need to minimise exclusions.  Regarding managed moves, managed pupil moves was an agreement between two schools and the parent/carers to give a pupil a fresh start and was based on Welsh Government guidance.  The River Centre provided a full curriculum and specialist placements were closely managed.  The school also provided home tuition to some pupils with special medical needs.

A Member requested comparison data for previous years in relation to paragraph 6.1.7 exclusions by month and paragraph 6.1.8 exclusions by year group as a percentage.  The Service Manager for Inclusion agreed to provide the comparison data to Members.

A Member referred to the low number of exclusions in primary schools and what support was available. The Service Manager for Inclusion said that in the first instance support would be provided through the Education Psychologist allocated to the school.  A Pastoral Support Plan could be used which supports an action focused multi-agency approach.  Should it be necessary the school could consider the appropriateness of requesting consideration of change of placement.   He added that Primary schools had been successful at keeping exclusions low.

The Committee AGREED to recommend, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that Members scrutinise the information detailed within the report, thereby contributing to continuous self-evaluation prior to making appropriate recommendations to the Executive Committee.