Agenda item

That members consider progress with the implementation of the Estyn Action Plan.

The Director of Lifelong Learning introduced a report to consider progress with implementation of the Action Plan following the 2011 Estyn Inspection of Local Authority Education Services for Young People.  He reported that a progress report had gone to cabinet.  He said that a lot of progress had been made in relation to the actions identified.

Councillor S. Jones commented that the font size of the report was too small and asked if it could be enlarged by 2 point sizes.  The Director for Lifelong Learning agreed and said that a larger font would be used and the report offered in A3 format.

The Chairman asked if there had been any impact locally on the GCSE English results.  The Director for Lifelong Learning reported that the intervention by the Minister for Education resulted in the re-grading of WJEC English GCSE which had an impact in all Flintshire schools except one which offered AQA English.  There was no commitment to regrades at that school thus the only option was resits for affected students. 

Councillor C.A. Thomas asked if higher English standards were required and how these would be addressed.  The Director for Lifelong Learning said that there was focus across the board in literacy and numeracy and referred to the planned introduction of the National Literacy and Numeracy Framework and tests next year in Wales.

Councillor I.A. Dunbar said that he was pleased by the actions of the  Minister for Education.  He referred to the introduction of the statutory School Governor training by the Welsh Government and said schools did not know when it would start and who would monitor attendance.  The Director for Lifelong Learning replied that there was no guidance at present on monitoring training for governors.  He clarified that it was mandatory that a council offered training for governors, but not mandatory that governors take up the training.

The Cabinet Member for Education concurred with Councillor I.A. Dunbar and he added that it was the governors’ responsibility to improve standards in schools.

            Mr D. Hytch reported that Governor Training had been held the previous evening.  He went on to seek clarification of point 2.2.5 which refered to “Classroom Management”.  The Director for Lifelong Learning replied that Flintshire did offer programmes for schools and would go in and offer support for teachers and schools.  Support was accessed via a request system.

            Mrs R. Stark was concerned about the time spent on behaviour management training. She asked how pupil premiums were being spent, if there was a plan and how rigorous Estyn would be.  The Director for Lifelong Learning said that pupil premiums were devolved to schools to be used alongside other resources for pupils from low income backgrounds.  He added that some schools targeted the funding well with good strategies, but in other schools it was subsumed into the school budget.

Councillor S. Jones asked if there had been a reduction in staff delivering training to governors and schools.  The Director for Lifelong Learning confirmed that there had been no staffing changes.

            The Chairman asked why school governor training sessions were being held at the Beaufort Park Hotel rather than council owned facilities.  The Director for Lifelong Learning agreed that the Beaufort Park should not be used and that various premises can be used for meetings, such as leisure centres and partner facilities. 

            Councillor V. Gay suggested that Governor training be delivered locally in a high school, eg. Saltney High to cover all schools in the local area.  Councillor I.A. Dunbar agreed that this was a good idea.  The Director for Lifelong Learning suggested that clusters of schools could commission their own training and that he would take the suggestions on board.

That members consider progress with the implementation of the Estyn Action Plan.