Issue - meetings

(a)       That the update be received and the planned development of the regional service within the framework provided by the National Model for regional working on school improvement be supported; and

(b)       That scrutiny incorporates the school improvement business plan for Flintshire and outcome reporting, envisaged within the National Model, into its annual work programme.

The Chairman welcomed and introduced Mr Huw Foster Evans, Chief Officer of GwE and invited him to give a presentation on the Regional School Effectiveness and Improvement Service (GwE).

The Director of Lifelong Learning introduced a report to provide an update on progress with the development of GwE.  He provided background information and reported that the Minister for Education had recently supported the GwE business plan for 2014-15.  He advised that Flintshire and all North Wales Local Authorities were committed to working collaboratively with each other and the Welsh Government to ensure that children and young people were given the best possible start in life and achieve life skills of the highest standards.  The commitment was embodied in local improvement plans and the development of the National Model for regional working on school improvement.

Mr. Huw Foster Evans gave a presentation on progress with development of the service which had been in place for 12 months.  The main points of the presentation were: 

·        The national context

·        The regional context

·        Supportive challenge

·        Challenging support

·        School to school support as the main driver

·        Structures

·        Shared accountability

·        PISA tests, skills and the national expectations

·        Leadership

·        HR support

·        Governor support 

The Director advised that GwE was commissioned by and accountable to North Wales local authorities including Flintshire.  This was embodied in the developing mode for performance planning and reporting (including to scrutiny) , in the participation of the Cabinet Member, Chief Education Officer and school representatives, in service governance, in the participation of commissioning officers, and delivery officers in local scrutiny. 

The Cabinet Member for Education spoke in support of GwE and said he was confident of progress and that the Service would continue to provide better outcomes for pupils in Flintshire schools.

Mr. Evans provided detailed responses to the written questions which had been submitted prior to the meeting by Councillor Ian Dunbar and Mr. David Hytch.  Councillor Ian Dunbar asked that written responses to the questions be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.  A copy of the questions and the responses are attached at Appendix 1. 

The Chairman invited members to raise any further supplementary questions.

Councillor Paul Shotton commented on the educational results achieved in Scotland and asked if GwE could look at how these had been gained.  Mr. Evans advised that he would be meeting with Professor Graham Donaldson on 1^st May 2014, who had previously undertaken a personal review of teacher education in Scotland, concerning a review Professor Donaldson would be carrying out on behalf of the Welsh Government on the assessment of the national curriculum.  He commented on the need to develop a more positive rather than negative language in terms of the education services in Wales and the accomplishments achieved.

Councillor Stella Jones referred to the mission statement for GwE and commented on the possibility of duplication of roles between GwE and Flintshire County Council..  She expressed further concerns in relation to the decisions made by GwE and adoption of a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90