Issue - meetings

That the Committee accept the Annual Report from GwE, whilst noting the positive impact of the regional service in supporting Flintshire schools throughout the pandemic, maintaining the focus on effective and successful schools and supporting schools in their preparations for the implementation of the new Curriculum for Wales.

            The Chair thanked GwE for the support they had provided during the Pandemic to school leaders and for their continuing support to Flintshire schools with the roll out of the Curriculum for Wales (CfW). 

Mr Martyn Froggett (Supporting Improvement Adviser) explained a presentation had been prepared which was in addition to the reports attached to the agenda.  He introduced Phil McTague (Secondary Core Lead) and David Edwards (Primary Core Lead) who would also be assisting with the presentation which focussed on work currently undertaken in schools, information on Welsh Government (WG) policies and pandemic recovery support for schools.

The Primary Core Lead gave a presentation which covered the following areas: -

·         The three main priorities for GwE:-

ØImplementing Curriculum for Wales

ØEnsuring robust self-evaluation processes

ØEstyn Inspections

·         Primary – Curriculum for Wales

Øidentified the unique factors of their school and how these contribute to the four purposes

Øreviewed their vision, values and behaviours to support the curriculum

Øbeen mindful of the key considerations e.g. statutory and mandatory elements

Øreviewed curriculum design models

Øconsidered the role of progression and pedagogy in their curriculum

Øbegun to design, plan, trial and evaluate new topics. 

·         Primary – Self-evaluation & quality assurance

·         Primary – Estyn Inspections

The Secondary Core Lead continued with the presentation which covered the following areas: -

·         Secondary – Support for Curriculum for Wales

Ø  All Flintshire schools have made extensive use of the regional support programme

Ø  Engagement in regional /local planning groups is good.

Ø  Schools have taken up the offer of specific for bespoke input from the GwE team on teaching and learning

Ø  There is increasing collaborative work through clusters and through alliances

Ø  ‘Six Steps’ reports (focussing on the Education Minister’s requirements of progress toward CfW) were undertaken with all schools in the summer term following discussions between schools and their SIAs

·         Secondary – self-evaluation & quality assurance

·         Preparation for inspection in secondary schools under the new Estyn Framework

            In response to a question from Councillor Andrew Parkhurst on the robustness and objective measurement of Estyn Inspections, Mr Martyn Froggett (Supporting Improvement Adviser) said previously with Estyn focussing on exam results the work that pupils had achieved in the classroom had taken second place.  Now Estyn’s base of evidence was the books the pupils were currently working from and the lessons that they were having which were moderated and he explained how this would work in schools.  GwE were supporting schools but said that it would take some time for the shared understanding of progression to be established.

            Mr Phil McTague (Secondary Core Lead) explained that it was the in-school variant which was more significant, and he explained what GwE were focussing on.  He provided information on the question level analysis which would enable training strategies to be provided to bring about improvements.  The data for the in-school variants, the question level analysis and classroom observations would drive progression and standards.   He felt that this ensured  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21