Agenda item

To receive an update on the support provided by the regional school effectiveness and improvement service, GWE and its impact on schools.

That the Committee note the Annual Report 2022-2023 and the positive impact of the regional service in supporting Flintshire schools, maintaining the focus on effective and successful schools.

The Chief Officer (Education & Youth) introduced the report which provided a detailed overview of the work of the Regional School Improvement Service with Flintshire schools during the academic year 2022 -2023.

The report identified that there was a strong relationship between Flintshire County Council and the Regional School Effectiveness Service (GwE). There were robust procedures in place for setting a direction and holding the regional service to

account. The specific roles of the Local Authority and the regional school improvement service in school improvement were explicit and clear to all stakeholders and they were effectively held to account by local scrutiny procedures.

            The Chief Officer invited Mr. Phil McTague, Mr. Bryn Jones and Mr. David Edwards from GwE to further present the report.

            Mr. Phil McTague (Secondary Core Lead) in presenting the report, explained that the service had moved forward from the pandemic to redesigning the Curriculum. He provided details of the four key areas, in relation to secondary schools, as follows:-

Key Area 1 – Improving Leadership

Key Area 2 – Improving Teaching and Learning

Key Area 3 – Curriculum and Provision

Key Area 4 – Learner Progress and Standards

            Mr. McTague drew Members attention to Appendix 1 of the report which provided a concise summary of the four key areas for secondary schools. He commented that improving leadership in schools was essential to the growth of any school and outlined changes in headship and challenges being faced by secondary schools across Flintshire. Information was provided on the headship profile, and it was confirmed that regular meetings were held to improve the quality of leadership with robust self- evaluation systems which were internal, service led, Local Authority informed but were now nationally profiled through the School Improvement Framework.

An overview of data planning in secondary schools was provided with the majority of schools having clear self-evaluation processes in place especially with training provided on improvement planning. Information on the targeted support plans in place for performance management in secondary schools was provided. An outline of the lessons which had been observed in schools and sixth form was provided together with an overview of the areas for the development required for the coming year.

Mr. McTague referred to the Curriculum and explained that all senior leaders in secondary schools were working hard in consolidating the vision for the design of the Curriculum, recognising strengths and working with stakeholders. All Flintshire schools were involved in alliances with other schools and an outline of the benefits was given and would become a part of the improvement framework moving forward. There were areas to address such as to continue to work on the transition and consistent approaches from years 5 to 8, to continue to hold meetings with the alliances that had been established so good practice could be shared and that GwE and Flintshire continued to work alongside schools to development assessment approaches and processes to track pupils in line with Curriculum changes.

Referring to Learner progress and standards it was explained that in most schools’ pupils listen, showed respect to teachers and each other. The vast majority of lessons were delivered in a productive, structured environment with an eagerness to contribute to class discussions. Pupils were able to offer meaningful and in-depth verbal responses with a wide vocabulary used.

            Mr. Bryn Jones and Mr. David Edwards (Primary Core Leads) drew Members attention to Appendix 2 of the report which provided a concise summary of the four key areas for primary schools. With regard to the primary sector an overview of the improving leadership across Flintshire schools was given together with information on the National Leadership programmes. School leaders were supported through the 360 degree plans, the School Partnership Programme and collaboration with secondary schools within cluster meetings. It was explained that when self-evaluation was effectively taking place in a holistic manner this linked improvement planning which then linked to support to address identified areas.

Mr. Jones referred to the 12 pedagogical principles which were embedded across Flintshire primary schools and further information was provided on this. Referring to areas of improvements, an overview of the in-school variants was provided together with the links to leadership in developing Welsh across the authority. Information was also given on the Curriculum provision provided within primary schools together with information on the work undertaken post covid in schools to drive standards for pupil wellbeing and independence to facilitate good progress in learning.

The Chair commented that having read the report she felt the education workforce at all levels remained interested in honing their skills and expertise by undertaking continual processional development (CPD). She was pleased that continual professional development was provided as it demonstrated that they were valued and were interested in their wellbeing, developing their skills and their careers. She was also mindful of the effective checks and balances which quickly picked up concerns at individual and whole school levels.

Councillor Paul Cunningham welcomed the report which he felt highlighted the work being undertaken and showed that school staff were keen to develop their education to enhance their work strengths and strategies. Councillor Carolyn Preece supported the comments made by Councillor Cunningham and congratulated the portfolio and the team but said that there was always room for improvement.

            In response to a question from Councillor Gladys Healey on assessments and statement for additional learning need, the Chief Officer confirmed that teachers were constantly assessing pupils with regard to their knowledge and understanding of concepts and skills. For those children who were having difficulties and not progressing there were well established processes to ensure that appropriate provision was put in place.

            The Senior Manager (Inclusion and Progression) reassured the Committee that the new Additional Learning Needs Education Tribunal (Wales) Act (ALNET) legislation would reduce the timescales from 26 weeks. Under ALNET schools were able to undertake this process as soon as a child was potentially identified as having additional learning need. This could be a parent, health professional or someone at the school and the assessment would start from this point. Training had been provided in schools with regard to their roles within ALNET with the timescales changed to ensure that pupils were not waiting too long for an assessment and to have their needs met.

            The Cabinet Member for Social Services and Wellbeing commented that schools considered the wellbeing of all children across the Curriculum and cared about the child and the family. She was glad to see that mention was made of the Quiet Place and PGD funding which was put to good use in all schools. Schools should be celebrated for the work that they had undertaken with pupils in schools around well-being and safeguarding.

            In response to a question from Councillor Dave Mackie on training courses, the Chief Officer explained that there had been an appendix which had not been attached to the report which provided training statistics and suggested that this be circulated to the Committee following the meeting. She felt that this report and the Self Evaluation Report provided reassurance that there was a very high degree of professional engagement at all levels from staff.

In response to a question from Councillor Mackie on GCSE outcomes, the Chief Officer explained that for a number of years the Local Authority was not permitted to report individual school performance and this data was for schools to use themselves to drive their own improvement journeys. The portfolio strove to drive improvements in schools, and it was agreed that an updated report be presented to the February meeting once this year’s results had been verified. She was reassured by Head Teachers and GwE colleagues that the improvement in schools was reflected in their individual self-evaluation documents and priorities in their School Improvement Plans. All schools had School Improvement Plans and support plans from GwE, and this was a priority to continue to drive up the outcomes for learners in their qualifications.

            In response to a question from Councillor Hilary McGuill around trauma counsellor support for refugee young people, the Chief Officer referred to the Local Authority’s self-evaluation report which included pupil wellbeing, trauma informed practice and impact of adverse childhood experiences. The report outlined the support and training that staff had undertaken in schools to support pupils using trauma informed practices and this was referenced in the report. 

            The Senior Manager (Inclusion and Progression) confirmed that there was a lot of work being undertake in schools around trauma informed practice.  An awareness raising event had been held for senior local authority officers and school-based staff which had included the Chief Officer.  Access was also being provided to the 11 day Trauma Informed Diploma.  This was initially being targeted at the designated person for looked after children in schools but had been extended wider.  This opportunity provide a detailed insight into trauma informed practice which would be targeted for children who were looked after. Schools were being encouraged to develop their awareness of trauma informed practice, and this was being driven by all senior officers across the portfolio to ensure that this also filtered across all of the services. She then referred to the Young Persons Counselling Service which worked closely with the refugees and emphasised the importance of clarity on the roles of the Council’s services and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) practitioners as these were quite different roles. She outlined the different ways of working in the primary and secondary sectors and referred to the CAHMS in Reach service which operated under the Health Board and were allocated to all schools. This service was working on the mental health training programme for schools to ensure that staff received appropriate training to enable them to identify mental health needs and provide that level of support from a school perspective.

The recommendation, as outlined within the report, was moved by Councillor  Paul Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Arnold Woolley.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee note the Annual Report 2022-2023 and the positive impact of the regional service in supporting Flintshire schools, maintaining the focus on effective and successful schools.