Issue - meetings

That the report be received and the achievements of pupils be noted.

The Director of Lifelong Learning introduced a report to provide Members with a summary of pupil attainment in statutory assessments across primary and secondary school phases for the school year 2012/13.  He provided background information and advised that attached to the report was an analysis of pupil attainment in statutory assessment and public examinations in the academic year 2012/13 for pupils in years 2, 6, 9 and 11 in Flintshire.

The Director invited Mr. Kevin Grandfield, Head of Schools Improvement Services, to present the data on statutory teacher assessment and reporting at Foundation Phase and Key Stage 2.  The Head of Schools Improvement Services also reported on the Key Stage 3 and 4 National Curriculum Assessment Results in Wales: 2013 and gave an overview of the trends in outcomes at Foundation Phase, Key Stage 2, and Key Stages 3 and 4.

The Director commented on the endeavours to secure high quality outcomes for learners.  Officers reported on the targets for performance across secondary schools based on the proportion of learners entitled to claim Free School Meals and advised that the targets set for Flintshire were amongst the highest and most challenging in Wales.  The outcomes were broadly in line with or above the targets set. 

The Director invited Mr. David Messum, Advisor for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing, to present the data on attendance and exclusions in Flintshire Primary and Secondary Schools: 2013.  Members were advised that school attendance was a high priority for the Welsh Government and local authorities in aiming to improve standards.  There had been a trend of improvement in Flintshire schools with figures for both primary and secondary schools being above the national average for Wales.  The Advisor for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing reported on the range of attendance across schools, target setting, and the number of permanent and fixed exclusions from Flintshire schools. 

The Chairman thanked the Director, Head of School Improvement Services and Advisor for Social Inclusion and Wellbeing, for their detailed presentations and invited Members to raise questions.

   The Chairman drew attention to the robustness of data.  He asked the Director if the Authority was satisfied with the teacher assessments made in Flintshire.  The Director responded that he had confidence in the professionalism of teachers and the workforce in schools.  He emphasised that he was aware of the level of challenge concerning assessments that teachers were undertaking in individual schools, however, he commented that he did not have the same confidence in the level of consistency across the country.     

The Chairman asked if there was any evidence that schools were not completing the forms correctly in relation to teacher assessments.  The  Head of Schools Improvement Services responded and explained the difference which had occurred between Flintshire and other Authorities last year.  The Chairman was given an assurance that there was no evidence that any other authorities were completing their forms incorrectly. 

Mr. David Hytch commented on the Foundation Phase data and referred to the pressure on schools to report matters in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83