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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED to recommend to Cabinet that the proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site be endorsed and to increase its capacity to 150 from September 2029 when occupation of the new school building is proposed.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the report be received.
RESOLVED that the update on the post-16 provision in Carmarthenshire be noted.
RESOLVED that the report detailing progress in relation to actions, requests or referrals emerging from previous scrutiny meetings be noted.
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
Apologies for absence were received from M. Hughes and Councillor E. Skinner.
There were no declarations of personal interest including any party whips.
The Chair advised that no public questions had been received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED to recommend to Cabinet that the proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site be endorsed and to increase its capacity to 150 from September 2029 when occupation of the new school building is proposed.
The Committee considered a report regarding the future provision of education at Ysgol Heol Goffa, following an independent review commissioned by Carmarthenshire County Council. The review had been undertaken following the decision made by Cabinet in 2024 not to proceed with the previously approved new school development due to cost constraints. The Committee noted that the review had identified concerns regarding the poor condition of the current school building, which was unsuitable for those with severe and complex additional learning needs, and the school was operating above capacity amid rising demand for specialist places. Attention was drawn to the preferred option identified in the review, which proposed the development of a redesigned, more cost-effective new school building. This approach would involve removing high-cost elements from the previous scheme, such as a respite centre and hydrotherapy pool, while still delivering a high-quality and practical facility. Members recognised that this proposal would provide a viable and sustainable solution for future provision. The Committee further noted that the proposed development would be eligible for 75% funding from the Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme, subject to approval of the full business case. It was emphasised that the proposal would support the Council’s statutory duties under the Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018 and would provide a future-proof model of specialist education. The Committee considered the detailed information set out within the consultation document and associated impact assessment appended to the report and noted that a statutory process would be required to relocate the school and increase capacity in accordance with the guidelines set out in the School Organisation Code (2026). Officers responded to the issues/observations raised by the Committee. The main matters were as follows: • In response to comments made by the Committee, the Cabinet Member for Education and the Director of Education and Leisure emphasised that they did not envisage any changes to the 75% financial contribution from Welsh Government, subject to approval of the full business case. • In response to the queries raised regarding current and projected capacity for Ysgol Heol Goffa, the Committee was appraised of the thorough process in place to identify the needs of pupils and whether specialist education settings were required. It was clarified that there were no significant waiting lists for the county’s specialist centres and the primary reason for the relocation of Ysgol Heol Goffa was related to the poor condition of the building. The new site would enable use of the facilities at Canolfan Pentre Awel and would also allow for expansion of the site in future if required. • It was explained, in response to a query, that the Authority’s ambition was to keep pupils within their natural learning communities; accordingly, existing specialist provision to meet the needs of pupils with Autistic Spectrum Conditions (ASC) was co-located within several mainstream schools across the county. A further £4m investment for specialist ASC provision would also be made at Ysgol Glan y Môr from September 2027 to address the demand within the secondary sector which was expected to ease projected pupil numbers for ysgol Heol Goffa. • In response to a query regarding potential NHS funding for those with severe and complex additional learning needs it was emphasised that the Authority’s preference would be to tripartite collaboration between Health, children’s services and education in order to meet the needs of pupils. It was acknowledged that there was room for improvement in terms of partnership working and further clarity was required from Welsh Government in terms of expectations, roles and responsibilities of agencies to ensure the efficient use of resources. Reference was also made to the recent Estyn Inspection of Ysgol Heol Goffa which highlighted that the lack of a dedicated school nurse limited the ongoing health support available for pupils with complex medical needs. The Director for Education and Leisure reported that some progress had been made in terms of healthcare and training plans, however nursing provision would be dependent on additional health board funding. An assurance was provided to the Committee that the Authority continued to engage with Welsh Government to seek appropriate support for the county’s specialist settings. • Committee welcomed the progress made to move forward with the ambitious project for Ysgol Heol Goffa and extended its gratitude to officers for the development of detailed proposals to determine the optimum solution for the school. Members further acknowledged that the overall conclusion of the review, which indicated that the development of a new 150-place special school, represented the most effective and financially sustainable option for meeting current and projected demand. The proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site and increase its capacity was therefore considered appropriate. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to recommend to Cabinet that the proposal to relocate Ysgol Heol Goffa to a new site be endorsed and to increase its capacity to 150 from September 2029 when occupation of the new school building is proposed.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received.
The Committee received for consideration a report which provided an overview of the progress made in implementing the priorities and projects associated with the Schools Workstream of the Council’s Transformation Strategy Work Programme, together with some of the key outcomes achieved to date. The workstream sought to assist schools in identifying cost reductions and better ways of working and support the development of more sustainable school budgets and help protect front line provision. The Committee reviewed the progress made in respect of the delivery of the projects which summarised the status of each review and showed that most projects had been completed or were progressing as planned. Whilst slower progress had been made in respect of the implementation of Electronic Ordering and invoice matching to improve the effectiveness of financial planning and monitoring in schools, additional temporary resource from the Transformation team bad been agreed to support this project. Officers responded to the issues/observations raised by the Committee. The main matters were as follows: • In response to a query, the Committee was provided with an update regarding the progress made to develop a centralised in-house resource to reduce reliance of agency supply. In this regard it was explained that an in-house pool of supply teachers was not considered financially viable for the county and had also been discounted nationally. The Authority was however exploring the potential for an in-house supply of Teaching Assistants, which would involve increasing internal capacity. • It was clarified, in response to a query, that the safeguarding savings within the primary sector related to the development of an Integrated Management Information System to streamline workflows and negate the need for external software packages to be purchased. An assurance was provided that historical data would remain available following the transition of the software system. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report be received.
The Committee received for consideration a report which provided an overview of the statutory and non-statutory delivery of the music service within Carmarthenshire County Council. The report outlined the scope of provision across schools and communities, including curriculum support, instrumental and vocal tuition and ensemble opportunities. The update highlighted how the service aligned with national priorities, including the National Plan for Music Education and the Curriculum for Wales. In addition, the Committee was appraised of recent developments, partnerships and achievements, together with the service’s ongoing role in supporting learners, schools and the wider community across Carmarthenshire. It was concluded that the Carmarthenshire Music Service continued to deliver a high-quality, inclusive and strategically aligned provision to support over 2,500 learners across the county. Through strong partnerships with schools and Coleg Sir Gar and full alignment with national priorities, the service was well positioned to meet the expectations of the National Plan for Music Education while contributing meaningfully to the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales. Officers responded to the issues/observations raised by the Committee. The main matters were as follows: • An overview of the funding mechanisms for the music service was provided to the Committee whereby pupils were required to pay a contribution towards music tuition in accordance with the Service Level Agreement. A top up grant was also provided by the National Music Service, however the level of grant funding had unfortunately decreased in recent years. • The Committee was provided with an overview of the range of support offered to both primary and secondary schools via the Service Level Agreement for a wide range of disciplines, in addition to the corporate and community support provided by the music service annually. Transportation was also provided to and from schools to the rehearsals setting to ensure equal opportunities for all learners. • The Committee was appraised of the contribution made by the music service towards the performance element for the delivery of GCSE, AS and A Level programmes. Following a request made by the Committee, the Music Service Manager agreed to circulate data in respect of the number of learners studying formal music qualifications. • The Committee commended the music service provision within the Council for its sterling contribution to the development of learners across Carmarthenshire and emphasised the importance of music education for reasons pertaining to health and wellbeing, confidence building, cultural appreciation, cognitive development and creativity. The Committee expressed that funding for the service should be protected in light of the array of benefits derived from music education. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the update on the post-16 provision in Carmarthenshire be noted.
The Committee received for consideration a report which provided an update on the Authority’s three-year strategy for Post-16 education, including sixth form provision. The strategy had been driven by three key factors: • the introduction of Medr as the new regulatory body for tertiary education with associated accountability requirements; • projected demographic decline from 2030 affecting learner numbers and financial sustainability; and • the need to deliver the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP). It was explained that the Authority had sought to develop a collaborative “local curriculum” across Welsh and English-medium provision, enabling learners to access a broad and equitable range of pathways while ensuring value for money. The strategy also highlighted the ongoing and future collaboration with partner schools, further education providers and higher education institutions, together with plans to review Post-16 provision in 2027 in light of learner outcomes, destinations, and performance data. The Committee noted that demographic changes were expected to reduce sixth form enrolment, which would result in financial pressures and challenges to maintain a broad subject offer, particularly in subjects with low uptake. The report outlined proposals to address these issues through increased collaboration, including a cluster model, shared teaching arrangements, and greater use of hybrid learning approaches. It was further reported that there was growing demand for Welsh-medium Post-16 provision, particularly in the Llanelli area, alongside a projected decline in English-medium numbers. This would necessitate further work and discussions about the future of secondary provision in the Llanelli area. Opportunities had been identified to expand work-related pathways, strengthen links with higher education institutions, and assess the impact of developments such as the Pibwrlwyd campus. Overall, the strategy aimed to maintain subject choice, support learner outcomes, and ensure the long-term sustainability and equity of Post-16 education across the county. Officers responded to the issues/observations raised by the Committee. The main matters were as follows: • An overview of the National context was provided to the Committee whereby the use of technology to collaborate in order to improve subject offerings, develop independent learning skills and ensure equitable provision for all pupils was emphasised as the way forward. An example of best practice in this regard was the shared teaching provision by way of the PAG collaboration model between Maes Y Gwendraeth, Y Strade and Bro Myrddin schools. • Reference was made to the collaboration opportunities between the Authority and Coleg Sir Gar in respect of the WESP to ensure Welsh Language provision for learners. The Director of Education and Leisure explained the role of Medr and Welsh Government, at a National level, to expand Welsh Language provision within further education across Wales, particularly in respect of vocational courses. • Concerns were raised regarding the decline in the number of pupils entering sixth forms to undertake A Level studies, together with the limited learning offer available for post-16 education. A request was made for further information to be provided to the Committee at a future meeting exploring the reasons for the decrease in pupils entering sixth form. • In response to a query, the Committee was advised that the Principal of Coleg Sir Gar would be invited to a future meeting of the Committee to discuss recent developments in respect of the post-16 learning offer and the impact of Coleg Sir Gar’s new development of the Pibwrlwyd Campus on its long-term provision at the Graig Campus. • The Committee was appraised of the Authority’s positive engagement with Medr thus far, however it was considered that further guidance was needed in terms of establishing cross-border collaboration opportunities. It was also expressed that Medr could also assist in the provision of a localised learning offer to address the declining number of pupils progressing from A Levels to University. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the update on the post-16 provision in Carmarthenshire be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the report detailing progress in relation to actions, requests or referrals emerging from previous scrutiny meetings be noted.
The Committee received a report which detailed the progress achieved in relation to requests or referrals emerging from previous meetings of the Scrutiny Committee during the municipal year. UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report detailing progress in relation to actions, requests or referrals emerging from previous scrutiny meetings be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
The Committee received an explanation for the non-submission of the following scrutiny report: Headteacher Groups Update UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the explanation for the non-submission be noted.
UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 17th March 2026 be signed as a correct record.
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