Wrthi'n llwytho
Y penderfyniadau fel y mae cofnodion y cyngor yn eu cofnodi. Bydd crynodeb mewn iaith glir yn dilyn pan fydd wedi'i ysgrifennu.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 June 2026 be approved.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 12 June 2026 be noted.
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined Forward Work Programme be approved.
RESOLVED: a) That the Content of the Conwy Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) action plan be noted. b) That Members continue to support and promote the Conwy Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), and the requisite work of all key stakeholders. c) That a mapping exercise be undertaken against the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) outcomes to identify priority areas.
RESOLVED: a) That the findings of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) review of school funding arrangements and the relevant findings of Estyn's thematic review of local authority support for schools to manage their budgets be noted. b) That the Councils’ response and the programme of work underway to address the findings, including the agreed workstreams and governance arrangements, be noted. c) That a review of the progress of the time-framed action plan be presented to the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a three-monthly basis. d) That the action plan be amended to address the financial management recommendation within the CIPFA School Funding Review Note: Councillor Geoff Stewart declared a personal interest in the above agenda item as he is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Stewart remained in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Antony Bertola. Councillors Anne McCaffrey and Gareth Probert were welcomed as new Members of the Committee, and thanks were extended to Councillors David Carr and Emily Owen, who were no longer Members of the Committee.
In the interest of transparency, Councillor Gareth Probert advised that his wife is a primary school teacher for another Local Authority. As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Probert remained in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon. Councillor Geoff Stewart declared a personal interest in agenda item 9 (School Funding Review) as he is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Stewart remained in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 June 2026 be approved.
The minutes of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 June 2026 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 June 2026 be approved.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 12 June 2026 be noted.
The minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 12 June 2026 were submitted for information. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the School Budget Forum held on 12 June 2026 be noted.
None
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined Forward Work Programme be approved.
The Scrutiny Lead Officer presented Members with the individual Forward Work Programme (FWP) for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined FWP. Members were advised that a number of topic selection forms would be reviewed, and that the FWP would be populated accordingly. The following was discussed: · Items without scheduled dates on the FWP remained under review by the Strategic School Planning Group and would be allocated dates in due course. · The Scrutiny Lead Officer would liaise with Education officers to schedule update reports in relation to Additional Learning Needs and school support services. RESOLVED: That the Forward Work Programme for the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the combined Forward Work Programme be approved.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: a) That the Content of the Conwy Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) action plan be noted. b) That Members continue to support and promote the Conwy Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), and the requisite work of all key stakeholders. c) That a mapping exercise be undertaken against the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) outcomes to identify priority areas.
The Cabinet Member for Education introduced Conwy's Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) Annual Review Report 2025-2026 and recommendations for 2026-2027 and the Senior School Improvement Officer highlighted key points from within the report. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: • In relation to the additional classroom at Ysgol Bod Alaw to accommodate the ‘Cylch Bae Colwyn’, officers would work with the school to determine whether any revision to the staffing structure was required, with funding to reflect this accordingly. • A recruitment policy had been introduced in relation to the Welsh language, which set out an expectation for staff to improve their Welsh language skills, supported by funded training. • Welsh language requirements for staff varied depending on the category of school. · National incentivisation arrangements were in place to support teacher recruitment and were not limited to Welsh language recruitment. - Teacher retention was recognised as a national matter, with school teachers’ pay and conditions applying nationally and limiting local flexibility. - Lobbying continued at a national level to improve teacher retention and to support the recruitment of Welsh-speaking teachers and specialist subject teachers. - Schools were engaging with available incentives, including Open University courses for staff and graduate teacher programmes. • The English as an Additional Language service was provided jointly with Denbighshire County Council. The Language Unit in Dolgarrog was used to support integration, with a package of support provided thereafter. • Pupils attending Welsh-medium primary schools but not progressing to Welsh-medium secondary education was a national issue. It was noted that specific areas within the County had been identified where this was occurring, and that a programme would be put in place to help address this. · Whilst it was suggested that a costed action plan be produced to address the shortage of Welsh-speaking teachers, the Head of Education Services advised that the current priority was to maintain the school estate within existing resources. It was noted that further national discussions were required regarding the funding of Welsh-medium provision. - It was advised that it may be possible to include a costed action plan as a target within the WESP action plan and that this would be a useful exercise, as existing funding did not fully cover the release of staff to undertake Welsh language training. - The Strategic Director – Finance and Resources advised that a range of activity was already taking place to support Welsh in Education, and that the current costs of this work could be identified. Members were advised that, should additional resources be sought, priorities would need to be considered in the context of limited resources, and a business case would be required. It was proposed that an initial mapping exercise be undertaken against WESP outcomes to identify priority areas, prior to consideration of a business case. RESOLVED: a) That the Content of the Conwy Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) action plan be noted. b) That Members continue to support and promote the Conwy Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP), and the requisite work of all key stakeholders. c) That a mapping exercise be undertaken against the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) outcomes to identify priority areas.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: a) That the findings of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) review of school funding arrangements and the relevant findings of Estyn's thematic review of local authority support for schools to manage their budgets be noted. b) That the Councils’ response and the programme of work underway to address the findings, including the agreed workstreams and governance arrangements, be noted. c) That a review of the progress of the time-framed action plan be presented to the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a three-monthly basis. d) That the action plan be amended to address the financial management recommendation within the CIPFA School Funding Review Note: Councillor Geoff Stewart declared a personal interest in the above agenda item as he is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Stewart remained in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Strategic Planning together with the Cabinet Member for Education introduced the School Funding Review and the Strategic Director – Finance and Resources highlighted key points from within the report. In scrutinising the report, Members discussed the following: · Whilst the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) report recommendations would be populated with timelines, the priority was reviewing the funding formula. - The revised funding formula would be brought forward for discussion at the School Budget Forum, with the intention of implementing the changes by 1 April, 2027. - Other actions were also being considered holistically as part of the review of the funding formula. - Updates would be brought to the most appropriate Committee and would include relevant timescales. • The flying start early years program was funded by the Welsh Government. · Changes to the funding formula would not require democratic approval. However, it was noted that any request for additional resources would require democratic approval. - Concern was raised that some schools may be impacted by changes to the formula and may require transitional funding. · It was confirmed that 13 schools had loans to the combined value of £1.6m. - Figures in respect of school deficits could not be provided until further work had been undertaken. · It was confirmed that an officer-led working group had been established, which included input from Headteachers. - A School Budget Forum was also in place as well as the Strategic School Planning Group which was a politically represented group. - The Head of Education Services would circulate the Terms of Reference and membership of the Strategic School Panning Group to Members. · The current method of distributing funding did not allow for funding to be allocated in response to specific circumstances. · It was noted that, should the existing school estate be maintained, additional funding would be required and that declining pupil numbers had an impact on the funding formula. · It was acknowledged that the Sustainable Communities for Learning programme needed to be accelerated, and that work was underway to recruit additional staff to support delivery. · It was advised that a small finance team continued to support schools. · Improved reporting arrangements were being considered and that schools would be included in that process. · In respect of pupil to teacher ratios, it was noted that direct comparisons were difficult due to factors such as smaller class sizes within sixth form provision. It was also confirmed that the pupil to teacher ratio in Conwy had increased. · There had been a significant increase in learners with Individual Development Plans (IDP), as more learners were being identified under Additional Learning Needs legislation. It was noted that no additional funding had been received from Welsh Government to resource the increase. - The Head of Education Services would provide figures in respect of spend per IDP, compared with neighbouring authorities. • It was confirmed that financial management training would be rolled out to all schools, including foundation schools. • In order to monitor progress, a report on the time-framed action plan was requested. Whilst officers considered a 6 monthly update appropriate, , a three monthly update on progress was proposed. RESOLVED: a) That the findings of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) review of school funding arrangements and the relevant findings of Estyn's thematic review of local authority support for schools to manage their budgets be noted. b) That the Councils’ response and the programme of work underway to address the findings, including the agreed workstreams and governance arrangements, be noted. c) That a review of the progress of the time-framed action plan be presented to the Education and Skills Overview and Scrutiny Committee on a three-monthly basis. d) That the action plan be amended to address the financial management recommendation within the CIPFA School Funding Review Note: Councillor Geoff Stewart declared a personal interest in the above agenda item as he is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). As the interest was not considered prejudicial, Councillor Stewart remained in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
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