Issue - meetings

That members consider progress with implementation of the Estyn Action Plan

and accept the report.

The Director of Lifelong Learning introduced the report to consider the progress made with implementation of the Action Plan following the 2011 Estyn Inspection of Local Authority Education Services for Children and Young People. 

The Director of Lifelong Learning highlighted the progress made in relation to key school organisation decisions such as the recent primary and junior school amalgamations, the closure of the smallest primary school and the options for secondary school re-organisation.

            Councillor D.I. Mackie asked the Director of Lifelong Learning if the proposals for post -16 education provision had been favourably received.  The Director of Lifelong Learning in response said that he was not aware of any issues.  He advised that at the next Cabinet meeting there would be discussion about the consultation process for Saltney and Flint post-16 education provision.

Councillor D. I. Mackie said that the appendices were difficult to read and at 100% they did not fit upon a single screen page. He asked if this could

               be addressed.          

            The Leader of the Council welcomed the monitoring report which he said was very positive and that it was essential that Estyn saw that the council was making good progress. 

Councillor A. Bragg asked how poor school attendance would be addressed and at what stage intervention occurred.  The Director of Lifelong Learning said that various types of interventions were available from school inclusion welfare officers, to Families First and multi agency support.  He said that patterns of absence or extended absence would be referred to Inclusion Welfare.

Councillor I. A. Dunbar asked how the achievement gap between girls’ performance and boys’ performance in schools would be addressed and if there were any initiatives for pupils who had lost interest in traditional school subjects.  The Secondary Phase Officer said that although girls in Flintshire secondary schools outperformed boys, the gap was getting smaller.  There was a variety of curriculum areas such as the learning route into engineering in conjunction with Deeside College which was available for year 10 students, some of which had gone on to study maths, physics or engineering.  Other vocational courses were now offered in schools through the 14-19 network.

               RESOLVED:

That members consider progress with implementation of the Estyn Action Plan

and accept the report.