Issue - meetings

The action sheet arising from the meeting of the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 15^th January, 2020 was submitted, whereupon:-

Item 5 – Action Sheet – 4^th December 2019

Improving Schools Programme - A Member again raised concerns that all Members had not received the correspondence from the Executive Member for Education in relation to a meeting in a Blaenau Gwent School.  The Chair confirmed that he had spoken to the Head of Democratic Services who had clarified why the Action had been completed and a letter from the Executive Member would be sent to the Leader of the Labour Group to address this issue.

The Leader of the Labour Group confirmed he had received a letter from the Executive Member for Education which had addressed the Labour Groups concerns, however, he felt it was not appropriate to share the private correspondence with the Committee.

The Chair advised Members that he would enquire if the correspondence from the Executive Member to the Leader of the Labour Group could be shared with all Members of the Education & Learning Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee AGREED this course of action.

Item 7 – Pupil Exclusions

In response to a Member’s question, the Director of Education clarified that some exclusions did carry on from key stage 3 through to key stage 4 and could potentially be the same pupil.

Forward Work Programme – 26^th February, 2020

A Member referred to the Forward Work Programme for 26^th February, 2020 and the request for the EAS to prepare a six month update on projected results for all schools so that Members could be kept fully informed and enquired regarding a timeframe.

The EAS representative said that key stage 4 target setting had significantly changed since level 1.  Secondary schools no longer had to set prescribed targets, they could be bespoke to specific cohorts, Challenge Advisors would monitor this, however, it would be very difficult to aggregate this in a meaningful way, currently there was a period of flux and it was impossible to predict a timeframe.  

The Member referred to categorisation points and said that the Welsh Government had made many changes to education over the last 8 years and Members needed to be kept fully informed.  The EAS representative responded that as there had been a long period of change a Members workshop could be arranged.  The Director of Education said there would be interim measures in place for the next three years and the Directorate were supporting teachers as best they could by relaying messages regarding curriculum changes and associated reforms.

The Chair requested that a Members briefing session be arranged with the EAS.

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing, that the action sheet be noted.