Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Education and the Managing Director EAS which was presented for Members to consider the full contents of the draft EAS Business Plan 2022-2025, as part of the regional consultation process. Through this activity Members will ensure that the plan enables appropriate support for schools and settings in Blaenau Gwent.

The Assistant Director EAS gave a presentation on the Business Plan covering a wide range of school improvement services to all schools.  The plan supports the role the Local Authority have in delivering their statutory function, addressing their individual improvement priorities and promoting improved pupil outcomes.

A Member enquired if all schools now participated in school to school working, professional learning and self-improvement.  The Assistant Director EAS said there was strong school engagement data, which was shared with the Local Authority and concerns were raised if there was insufficient engagement by schools.  A brief two slide PowerPoint presentation called ‘Stats and Stories’ specifically focusing on Blaenau Gwent levels of school engagement would be circulated to scrutiny Members to give a snapshot of school engagement as of Spring 2022.

A Member referred to paragraph 5.1.5 and the uncertainty around regional grant funding, the Assistant Director EAS said there had been a commitment from the Welsh Government to move to a three year grant profile which showed positive intent from the Welsh Government and confirmed that for the first year they were unaware of any significant reductions.

In response to a Member’s question regarding how the EAS was going to measure pupil progress moving forward, the Assistant Director EAS gave a detailed response and said that dialogue was still being undertaken with schools regarding progression and assessment and would continue with local authorities and Headteachers to evolve that dialogue.

A Member enquired regarding what barriers and weaknesses the EAS may encounter to achieving the vision moving forward.  The Assistant Director EAS said that a broad range of risks were highlighted in paragraph 5.2.1 and felt it was around recognising that they were part of a wider system, partnerships with schools, local authorities, Estyn and the Welsh Government was key and collectively, working with partners, to know when to intervene and not leaving that intervention too late.

The Committee AGREED to recommend that the report be accepted and endorse Option 1; namely that Members received the report for information and accepted the Business Plan.