Agenda item

To receive the analysis of recent Estyn Inspection Reports copy enclosed).

            (a)       That the report be noted: and

(b)       That a letter be sent to the schools congratulating them on the positive outcomes of the inspections. 

The Systems Leader introduced the report on the analysis of inspection reports for the following six schools inspected under the Estyn Framework between March and June 2013:-

·        Northop Hall C.P. School

·        Abermoddu C.P. School

·        Ysgol y Llan, Whitford V.P.

·        Bryn Deva C.P. School, Connah’s Quay

·        St. Anthony’s R.C. Primary School

·        Broughton Primary School

He detailed the positive comments made in key questions 1, 2 and 3 for all six schools and highlighted those made in the areas of Standards; Wellbeing; Learning experiences; Care, support and guidance; Learning environment and Partnership working.  He also detailed the one recommendation under negative comments about extending provision for global citizenship across a school.  

            Councillor Colin Legg expressed concern about the negative comment in the report on the issue of global citizenship which he felt was unfair and he also felt that the subject should be part of civic lessons.  Mrs. Rita Price asked if the Section 50 report had been considered as part of the inspection as she felt it would have provided evidence of global citizenship.  The Systems Leader explained that historically the RE advisor/systems leader had not been able to look at the Section 50 report so had not been able to include any information from it when undertaking the analysis of a school. 

            Mr. Ron Keating said that the Estyn reports compared like with like and that Voluntary Aided or Church schools did not fall within the remit of SACRE.  He spoke of the function of SACRE and the need of the inspector to create something meaningful for analysis by SACRE.  He raised concern that some of the bullet points were not consistent with others in the same section as some were detailed and some were not and said that consideration needed to be given when SACRE viewed the Estyn analysis. 

            The Systems Leader said that it was possible for SACRE to identify good schools across Flintshire and promote the good practice undertaken by those schools.  He felt that schools supporting other schools was important and that if the schools gave their permission then the good practice could be accessible by all schools via a dedicated webpage or spreadsheet.  Councillor Bithell said that the Hill report highlighted the importance of support to other schools and working in clusters to share good practice.  He also felt that this would be a valuable contribution for schools that were struggling.   

            Mr. Keating commented on the role of SACRE to promote excellent collective worship opportunities in all schools but raised concern about the varying abilities of teachers to deliver good Religious Education (RE).  He felt that a greater challenge was in the Foundation Phase and primary education as schools could not guarantee that teachers would be “specialists” in RE and may not have received the appropriate training in that area.  He said that by law, RE had to be taught and that RE specialists varied in degrees of commitment to faith.  He said that the quality of RE had to be defined by SACRE in the agreed syllabus and added that this was needed to ensure the best outcomes for pupils.  Mr. Keating felt that the sharing of good practice was one of the best ways for schools to improve and feel supported. 

            Mr. Huw Jones spoke of a Subject Forum that he had arranged and explained that only four or five schools had sent a representative which was poor.  He explained that he had set up a sharing Wiki where good practice and resources could be shared and he felt that the role of SACRE was to support RE in schools by helping those that were in need of assistance. 

            Mr. Ron Keating said that he intended to bring up the issue at the Secondary Heads Federation meeting and that he would express the concerns raised by SACRE.  Mrs. Price felt that some schools were clearly under a lot of pressure and said that the more support that schools could be given the better but added that RE teachers were doing excellent work. 

            The Chairman said that the ideas of the Systems Leader and Mr. Jones for sharing good practice had been supported by SACRE and that the ideas could be combined rather than duplicated.  Mr. Jones advised that schools could contact him and he could include them in the Wiki site.      

RESOLVED:

            (a)       That the report be noted: and

(b)       That a letter be sent to the schools congratulating them on the positive outcomes of the inspections.