Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee supports the effective, multi-agency, partnership working within the Welsh in Education Strategic Forum which creates and monitors the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan; and

(b)       That the Local Authority be encouraged to offer the same courses made available to officers, to Members of the Council wishing to learn Welsh.

The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) introduced a report to inform the Committee of the requirements on local authorities to produce a Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) to demonstrate how they will meet the Welsh Government’s outcomes and targets outlined in the Welsh Medium Education Strategy (WMES).

The Chief Officer advised that the report provided specific details about Flintshire’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, how the Council meets its obligations in promoting Welsh-medium education, assesses the demand for Welsh-medium education, increases the number of pupils accessing their education through the medium of Welsh and improves standards of pupil attainment in both Welsh first and second language.  The Chief Officer provided background information and referred to the value and quality of the effective multi-agency partnership working within the Welsh in Education Strategic Forum which creates and monitors the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.    The Chief Officer invited the Senior Manager School Improvement to report on the key successes and challenges in meeting the targets in the Plan for 2015/16 as detailed in the report.  She commented on the effective and proactive work of the Welsh in Education Strategic Forum in delivering and monitoring the WESP. 

            Councillor Chris Bithell commented that the Authority had actively promoted the welsh language with its partner agencies, however, it was a matter of parental choice as to whether or not parents decided to take up the offer of welsh education in Flintshire for their children. 

Councillor Nancy Matthews asked for information on whether the welsh primary schools in Flintshire had been categorised as red, amber or green.  The Senior Manager School Improvement said she could provide this information following the meeting, but that it was available on the My Local School Wales website.         In response to a further concern expressed by Councillor Matthews the Senior Manager School Improvement explained that whilst  recruitment into welsh medium schools was a challenge, headteachers had not expressed any concerns that they had been unable to fill vacancies.

            David Hytch commented on the positive benefits of a welsh medium education and said the performance of pupils in English at welsh medium schools was amongst the highest in Wales.  The Senior Manager School Improvement referred to the Opinion Research Services (ORS) survey undertaken in 2013 where the data confirmed demand in Shotton/Deeside for more local provision of Welsh Medium education.  She advised that it was planned to repeat the ORS survey in 2016 to reassess demand to inform future planning for Welsh medium places.   The Chief Officer referred to the work undertaken with early years groups to create funding type arrangements around welsh medium schools to encourage families across the threshold to become involved in activities and part of the welsh communities.  Mrs. Rebecca Stark commented on the need to provide support for parents to enable them to engage with and assist their children through welsh medium education.   The Senior Manager School Improvement explained that schools provided additional support for parents which was promoted within their local communities.  During discussion Officers and members also commented on the range of support and courses which were available to adults throughout the County and through Coleg Cambria and Bangor University.   

Following a question from Councillor Andy Dunbobbin on data from Ysgol Croes Atti Glannau Dyfrdwy, Claire Homard agreed to check if information on the increase in pupil numbers was included in the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan.

            During discussion Officers responded to the questions raised by Councillor Nigel Steele Mortimer around the opportunity to create a hybrid model of schools in the future.    The Senior Manager School Improvement said she anticipated that there would be an opportunity in the future to explore a more dual categorisation of schools.  Councillor Chris Bithell also commented on the possibility of schools considering forming dual federations with English or Welsh schools in the area. 

Councillor Colin Legg expressed his congratulation and thanks to the Chief Officer and his team on progressing Welsh Medium Education in Flintshire.  In response to a query raised by Councillor Legg the Chief Officer advised that all documents relating to the Welsh Medium Education Strategic Plan were available in English and Welsh.

RESOLVED

(a)       That the Committee supports the effective, multi-agency, partnership working within the Welsh in Education Strategic Forum which creates and monitors the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan; and

(b)       That the Local Authority be encouraged to offer the same courses made available to officers, to Members of the Council wishing to learn Welsh.