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 to: 1. Scrutinise the Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language in respect of matters considered and agreed by Cabinet, and any key decisions taken, during the period 7 March – 2 December 2025. 2. Identify any areas arising from those matters determined within this period which Committee wish to further scrutinise, as part of revisions to the committees published work programme, in relation to Education and Inclusion and Welsh Language.
RESOLVED to: 1. Acknowledge the contents of the report and note the impact of the proposed changes to the regulations as well as next steps. 2. Consider whether there are any aspects of the report that the Committee wish to scrutinise in greater depth.
RESOLVED to continue the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, to allow consideration of the remaining agenda items and continuation of Council business.) It was RESOLVED to: 1. Consider responding as consultees upon the proposals detailed below in paragraph 4. 2. Consider as a committee, to provide further comments, observations or recommendations in respect of these proposals prior to Cabinet consideration. 3. Request the Service Director - Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications to provide Cabinet with the feedback of the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee.
Apologies of absence were received from County Borough Councillors J Elliott, S Hickman and E Watts, co-opted Member Mr Spencer Jones, and the Assistant Dietitian, Ms Ffion Davies.
The Senior Solicitor - Litigation explained that a blanket personal declaration would be declared in relation to agenda items 2, 3 and 4 for those present who were members of a Governing body and or school mentioned in the agenda item was within their ward. A separate personal declaration should be made by members for other items. In accordance with the code of conduct, the following declarations were made in relation to: Ø County Borough Councillor J Brencher - Items 2 & 4 - Personal Interest – “I taught in Ysgol Bro Taf, formally Pontypridd High School.” Ø County Borough Councillor S Evans – Item 2 & 4 – “My sons school is mentioned in item 2 and item 4.” Ø County Borough Councillor R Lewis – Item 2 – “I am a governor on the temporary governing body of the new ALN school in Clydach Vale, I am also a governor of the Virtual School and Chair of the Central South Consortium Joint Committee.” Ø County Borough Councillor S Evans – Item 4 – “USW is my employer.”
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to: 1. Scrutinise the Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language in respect of matters considered and agreed by Cabinet, and any key decisions taken, during the period 7 March – 2 December 2025. 2. Identify any areas arising from those matters determined within this period which Committee wish to further scrutinise, as part of revisions to the committees published work programme, in relation to Education and Inclusion and Welsh Language.
The Chair explained that the purpose of the report was to provide Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee the opportunity to challenge and scrutinise the Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language. A Member noted that RCT was very fortunate to have had a number of majorschool improvementschemes overrecent yearsand intothe future and, asked howthat position compared with other local authorities. The Cabinet Member explained that he attended quarterly WLGA meetings with 21 other Education Cabinet members across Wales to discuss education issues and question the Cabinet Secretary. RCT’s capital programme was Wales-leading, with nearly £1 billion pledged for new schools between 2014 and 2033. Eight schools had been completed in the past 18 months, and a further £414 million was committed over the next nine years. He highlighted strong relationships with Welsh Government officers, which supported approval of plans, and noted that while £414 million had been agreed in principle, future funding depended on the outcome of the upcoming election. He concluded that RCT’s level of investment was unprecedented and positioned the authority as a leader in Wales. A Member in respect of the plan noted the emphasis within it on professional learning, strong leadership and strong governance and wondered how the Cabinet Member saw that being achieved. The Cabinet Member advised that the recent Estyn inspection praised RCT’s leadership, highlighting strong governance arrangements, the expertise of the senior leadership team, and effective succession planning. The report also commended political leadership, noting the strategic role of the Cabinet and its close working relationship with senior officers. Scrutiny arrangements were recognised as robust, allowing members to challenge decisions effectively. He concluded that RCT was in a very strong position regarding governance and leadership. The Member asked the Cabinet Member how they were planningto movethat strategic leadership and governance into schools and local governing bodies, acknowledging the issues with Hwb. The Cabinet Member acknowledged ongoing difficulties experienced by Members and governors in accessing Hwb, noting that the issue had been raised previously with the Cabinet Secretary. He recognised that Hwb was a Welsh Government system with increasing emphasis on its use and assured that feedback and concerns would be taken on board, to address barriers affecting governors’ ability to fulfil their governance role effectively. The Cabinet Member explained onthe widersubject, that governance within schools was supported through regular meetings between senior leaders and head teachers via the Head Teachers’ Forum, enabling discussion of key challenges and pressures. He highlighted the new school improvement team, which aimed to raise standards, and noted his role as chair of the School Budget Forum, where head teachers shared views on budgets and wider issues. He added that formal processes were in place for schools in category, involving regular meetings with senior leaders, governors, and improvement officers, and that he attended these quarterly to observe and understand challenges. A Member asked a number of questions: · The reportstated thestatutory dutiesof SACRE/SACare toadvise thelocal authority on RE, RVE, RS, and collective worship review syllabus, consider exemption, and publish annual reports. Focusing on the annual report, the Member asked why it is only now we're receiving the review 23-24report. · Given Estyn reportschanges howwill RCT ensure effective monitoring of RE and RVE standards. · What support willbe givento schoolsto managethe transitionfrom legacyRE syllabusto thenew RVEsyllabus. · How is Welsh language and culture embedded in RVE delivery. · How isSACRE/ SAC,ensuring thatRVE provisionreflects thediversity of beliefs and other religious world views in RCT. · Looking at the membership list,Appendix 1,there isa bigvoid ofrepresentative frommultiple faiths. What is RCT’s strategy to fulfil that void. The Cabinet Member highlighted positives from the annual report, noting progress on the youth aspect of SACRE, which had been outstanding for some time. He stated that SACRE arrangements were in transition and referenced the forthcoming introduction of SAC, expected in the near future. The Cabinet Member, with the permission of the Chair, acknowledged therewere amultitude ofquestions with regards to SACRE and would provide a comprehensive response directly to the Member. A Member acknowledged the proposed education strategic plan and referenced recent years of significant budget cuts, during which education budgets were protected, and asked how confident the Cabinet Member was that RCT could deliver the plan if future protection of education funding could not be guaranteed. The Member, in reference to the education strategic plan, asked how the Cabinet Member envisagedthe recommendationsof the SCfLtask andfinish group feeding into the plan. The Cabinet Member acknowledged the strategic plan as ambitious and welcomed scrutiny. He stated that education had been prioritised over the past decade due to its fundamental role in child development, community resilience, and life outcomes. Despite financial challenges, funding for schools had increased by 45% compared to 32% for other departments. He expressed pride in this achievement and noted strong relationships with schools during efficiency measures. Looking ahead, he emphasised his commitment to maintaining investment, though future funding would depend on government settlements. He hoped education would remain a priority and confirmed the plan aligned with the corporate strategy and addressed Estyn’s key recommendations. In reference to the education strategic plan, and how the recommendationsof the SCfLtask andfinish group fed into the plan, the Cabinet Member stated that he had reviewed the 12 recommendations and was satisfied with the content in terms of his responses and its link to the wider strategic plan but was happy to provide further details to the Member, outside of the meeting, if required. A Member noted asignificant focus forthe committeehad beenpupils’ attendanceand wellbeing and asked to what extent family engagement officers have had an impact on attendance, particularly when it comes to more vulnerable learners. The Cabinet Member noted that attendance was a key priority for the authority and a major Estyn recommendation due to its impact on learners. He highlighted the role of family engagement officers, employed in 34 schools with five more planned, in fostering community links, supporting parents, and improving attendance, particularly in deprived areas. He reported that RCT had risen to 17th in Wales for overall attendance, the highest since 2015 -16, and secondary attendance had improved by 1.2%, moving from 22nd pre-pandemic to 19th. While acknowledging more work was needed, he praised the positive impact of engagement officers and the attendance and wellbeing service. A Member, also highlighting the issue of Hwb, asked what the view was on how RCT was performing in terms of school improvement, acknowledging thenew schoolimprovement servicesince September 2025. The Cabinet Member confirmed that concerns about Hwb’s functionality had been raised with the Cabinet Secretary and other Welsh Government officials. He expressed hope that the issue would be addressed, though noted he was unsure whether technological changes were possible. The Cabinet Member noted that the school improvement service had undergone a major change since September, moving from the consortium model to a local authority-led approach. He reported that the new service was bedding in well, building on previous arrangements while offering a bespoke RCT model. In the last academic year, 86% of core inspections required no follow-up, only two schools were placed in special measures, and 96.4% of RCT schools were not in statutory follow-up. He highlighted strong early years provision, narrowing exam gaps, and reduced exclusions as positive outcomes. He concluded that the service was off to a good start and welcomed future scrutiny of its performance. The Member referred to the data provided and questioned whether there was an opportunity to examine post-16 performance more closely, noting the lack of comparative data for some schools such as Ysgol Afon Wen and Bro Taf. They highlighted the need to explore student engagement, particularly in schools with strong results, and suggested finding new ways to address gaps in comparative data. The Cabinet Member agreed with the points raised, noting the importance of scrutinising post-16 outcomes from a local authority perspective. He acknowledged that Coleg y Cymoedd published its own strong data and confirmed he would speak to officers to clarify the specifics of the requested information. A Member, inrelation tothe WelshLanguage andEducation WalesAct, the implications on the resource and the council's ability to fulfil its obligations, stated they would be interested in views on that. The Member,in relationto thestrategic plan,was pleasedto seethe focuson attendanceand alleviatingchild poverty,as had beenalluded to earlier, in terms of education being a foundation to ensuring the best possible outcomes for children and young people, and asked what the Cabinet Member saw wasthe impactof factorsthat arebeyond hiscontrol orexternal factors or decisions that have been made that are outside of his remit, namely home to school transport and more broadly cost of living on being able to achieve the ambitious targets in that plan. The Cabinet Member explained that new responsibilities under the Welsh Language and Education Act 2025 had been scrutinised by the Welsh Language Steering Subgroup, which he chaired. The committee agreed to set a 15% target for non-teaching staff able to speak Welsh, revising the previous figure of 12.4%, supported by the council’s five-year Welsh Language Strategy and guaranteed interview scheme for Welsh speakers. He noted positive recruitment results and a 2.8% increase in Welsh speakers in the latest census, partly attributed to relocation and cultural initiatives such as the Eisteddfod. He confirmed the council’s commitment to resourcing efforts to grow Welsh-speaking staff and promote community use of the language, with ongoing review of future initiatives. The Cabinet Member addressed the question on attendance, noting it was a key focus for the education directorate. He stated that current data was varied, and, in his view, it was too early to establish any correlation between the recent changes to home-to-school transport policy and attendance. He emphasised that multiple factors influence attendance and confirmed this position was supported by officer briefings and discussions with secondary school teachers. The Cabinet Member thanked members and the Chair, stating that engagement with scrutiny was highly valued as it strengthened decision-making in RCT. The Cabinet Member recorded his thanks to the Director of Education and Inclusion Services, for her consistent engagement with scrutiny, responsiveness to member questions, and provision of data and updates. He noted that her input had greatly supported his understanding of key issues and informed council policy review. It was RESOLVED to: 1. Scrutinise the Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language in respect of matters considered and agreed by Cabinet, and any key decisions taken, during the period 7 March – 2 December 2025. 2. Identify any areas arising from those matters determined within this period which Committee wish to further scrutinise, as part of revisions to the committees published work programme, in relation to Education and Inclusion and Welsh Language.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to: 1. Acknowledge the contents of the report and note the impact of the proposed changes to the regulations as well as next steps. 2. Consider whether there are any aspects of the report that the Committee wish to scrutinise in greater depth.
The Business Manager Catering Services explained that the purpose of the report was to update the Committee on the proposed changes to the Welsh Government Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards and Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2013. The report considered the changes, which had been made to the primary menu, and the support being provided to pupils, parents/carers and schools and governing bodies to implement and work towards the proposed changes. The Officer then took Members through the report. A Member noted that the Welsh Government’s Universal Primary Free School Meals grant did not cover the cost of healthy meals, and that Catering Services intended to lobby for a unit rate review. The Member asked whether the committee should also consider writing to Welsh Government (WG) in support. The Business Manager for Catering Services reported that the unit rate had recently increased from £3.20 to £3.40, backdated to September 2025, following feedback from local authorities. She noted that total costs included both direct and indirect expenses, with medically prescribed diets identified as a key risk area requiring significant investment. The service was also lobbying WG for funding for dietetic support, as highlighted in its consultation response. The Service Director for 21st Century Schools and Transformation also confirmed that, despite the increase to £3.40, the Council continued to heavily subsidise the cost and suggested that any comments from Scrutiny to WG would be helpful. A Member noted increased food waste and reduced uptake of school meals since cold options were removed and asked what measures were being taken to address waste and whether cold options would be reconsidered to prevent children going hungry. The Business Manager explained that increased plate waste was expected following menu changes, as children needed time to adjust. The full UPFSM offer in RCT was now plated to ensure nutritional balance, unlike the previous menu. Dietitians were working with schools through taste-testing sessions to encourage uptake. The removal of cold options, which were not nutritionally balanced, contributed to reduced meal uptake, though most pupils enjoyed the new menu. Support was being provided to schools where pupils struggled to transition, and the service was participating in the RISE project with Cardiff University to monitor consumption and reduce waste. The School Catering Dietitian reported that taste testing sessions had been highly successful and were helping children become familiar with different foods. Work with suppliers to promote fruit and vegetables was ongoing, with further sessions planned. The initiative had received positive feedback from governors, parents/carers, and families. A Member raised concerns about whether financial constraints could compromise the quality of products and cited an example involving a medically prescribed diet for a child with cystic fibrosis, stressing the need for accuracy in meal provision. The Business Manager confirmed that pupils requiring medically prescribed diets were managed through the Resolve system, with tailored menus provided and all kitchen and school staff informed of individual requirements. The Dietitian added that quality had improved through reducing palm oil and highly processed foods and increasing scratch cooking. She confirmed that pupils with medical diets were registered on an online platform, enabling dietitians to create tailored menus and comprehensive plans for conditions such as cystic fibrosis. The Member highlighted concerns about the secondary menu, noting that removing the salad bar had reduced uptake of school meals. They suggested reinstating the salad bar to provide healthy choices that appeal to adolescents and encourage them to stay for school meals rather than seek alternatives elsewhere. The Business Manager for Catering Services reported positive feedback from the County Youth Forum on healthier menu options and confirmed plans to review salad bars, despite challenges such as cross-contamination and time constraints. She noted ongoing work with dietitians, youth services, and school councils to incorporate more healthy, high-protein foods and increase fruit and vegetables in recipes, alongside developing a new secondary menu. The Dietitian agreed that the County Youth Forum was valuable for gathering pupils’ views and confirmed plans to introduce options such as salad pots, pasta pots, and granola pots. She noted new concepts like “spud stations” promoting healthy jacket potato choices and ongoing work to develop further healthy menu concepts for secondary schools based on pupil preferences. The Chair noted that the report this year focused on primary menus and requested that report back to committee next year, should include the revisions to the secondary menu, to ensure changes at primary level were not undermined at secondary level. A Member requested information on how religious dietary requirements, such as halal and kosher diets, were being accommodated alongside medically prescribed diets. The Business Manager for Catering Services explained that while there was no specific halal or kosher menu, a vegetarian option was available daily for those who request it. The Member noted the positive feedback from Cwm Clydach Primary on taster sessions and suggested exploring options to roll these out more widely across the county borough as part of promoting nutritious meals. The Business Manager for Catering Services confirmed that taste testing sessions were offered to all headteachers, with around a dozen booked so far but noted the sessions were resource intensive and subsidised by RCT but had been highly beneficial. Additional initiatives included fruit and vegetable tasting with a local supplier and fish promotion with Castell Howell to encourage pupils to try new foods such as oily fish. The Member expressed concern that some suppliers, such as for ice cream, were sourced from outside RCT despite the availability of award winning local suppliers. She highlighted the carbon footprint and urged greater use of local suppliers where possible, whilst acknowledging potential procurement constraints. The Business Manager explained that few RCT companies bid for food contracts due to volume requirements. Local suppliers were encouraged to work with larger contractors like Castell Howell to join their supply chain. While restricted to approved suppliers, efforts were ongoing to source more locally, including exploring options such as Braces for bread, and engaging with Welsh suppliers at events. The Dietitian added that sourcing locally produced Welsh products was a priority and confirmed recent changes, including switching ice cream and yoghurts to Welsh suppliers. She noted that further steps would be taken when revising the secondary menu in January, though embedding these changes takes time. The Member clarified that their concern was about prioritising RCT suppliers where possible but acknowledged that capacity and volume requirements may limit this. The Business Manager added that suppliers must also meet school compliance standards, noting that the current supplier of ice cream developed an ice cream and frozen yoghurt to meet sugar regulations, which could be a barrier for some local suppliers. A Member asked whether the Council could be confident that it was compliant with the Social Partnership and Procurement Bill moving forward. The Business Manager confirmed that all contracts were fully compliant and processed through procurement, with Caerphilly CBC managing food contracts for several authorities. The Service Director added that food procurement was part of an All-Wales contract managed by Caerphilly CBC on behalf of Welsh Government. A Member asked for clarification on how compliance with regulations would be monitored and what measures would be taken if schools failed to meet the required standards. The Business Manager confirmed that menus were fully compliant, and the service was responsible for delivery in all schools. She noted that WLGA compliance certification was being finalised, with minor nutritional adjustments to menus. Detailed guidance, including a Cook’s Manual and pictorial menus, ensured consistency, and compliance checks were carried out internally by staff using a checklist. A Member asked whether training and updates were provided to ensure staff kept up to date with the required standards. The Business Manager explained that cluster meetings were held with all cooks before and after changes to the primary menu to review guidance. Extensive communication was sent to schools, parents, and carers, including a parent-friendly leaflet and detailed documentation for schools and governing bodies on the changes and compliance requirements. A Member asked whether feedback from primary cooks included concerns about dining halls having enough time and space for all children to eat, given increased numbers from Universal Primary Free School Meals, and how this might relate to food waste. The Member asked whether progress was being made toward introducing smaller portions for younger children, as required by WG noting this could help reduce food waste compared to the current uniform portion sizes. The Business Manager explained that WG offered all 22 local authorities the chance to trial new portion sizes, but none accepted due to implementation challenges. Calculating quantities for mixed-age sittings and using different utensils would be complex, especially in schools with split classes and limited hall space. Proposed changes included half an adult portion for younger learners and three-quarters for older ones, but the authority had waited for final recommendations before acting. She noted that older school halls were not designed for current pupil numbers, leading to early lunch times for younger children, which may contribute to waste. She suggested working with schools to adjust the timing of breaks, when milk is offered etc., to improve meal consumption. The Service Director noted that grant conditions for Sustainable Communities for Learning were set before Universal Primary Free School Meals, so they had lobbied WG to review hall size requirements in light of new regulations. She highlighted challenges with short lunch periods in secondary schools, often 30-35 minutes, where up to 1,400 pupils were served, creating queues and pressure on catering staff. WG was considering changes to lunch duration. The Director stressed that many older schools had undersized halls, requiring multiple sittings, which impacted pupils’ ability to eat together and develop social skills. The Member asked how the issues of non-compliance with future regulations, highlighted in Table 2 comparing current and new requirements, was being addressed. The Business Manager explained that some areas in Table 2 were not compliant because changes needed to meet proposed regulations would conflict with current ones. For example, introducing a meat-free Monday would breach existing requirements for minimum meat provision, which is why certain options could not be ticked. The Dietitian added that full compliance with proposed regulations was not yet possible, but a nutritional analysis had been completed for current standards. The proposed regulations were still awaiting Senedd approval. She noted that the authority was already meeting many of the proposed requirements, ahead of most other local authorities. The Member asked if more detailed data on food waste could be provided, broken down by school cluster (without identifying individual schools), as levels varied across locations. The Business Manager explained that there was no measured data on food waste, only verbal feedback from headteachers. Plate waste varied by school and day, making it difficult to draw conclusions. A previous trial with weighing waste under a WRAP project highlighted the subjectivity of the data. The RISE project was expected to provide recommendations on whether weighing waste was worthwhile or if focus should shift to increasing consumption. Initiatives included removing flight trays in some schools to discourage children from skipping main meals for desserts, though changes required a whole-school approach due to added supervision and kitchen workload. Overall, efforts aimed to reduce waste by encouraging pupils to eat more of their meals. The Member asked for more information on efforts to address the challenge of using fresh vegetables instead of frozen, noting this was being explored with Welsh Veg in Schools and fruit and veg suppliers. The Business Manager explained they were working with Welsh Veg in Schools to introduce fresh produce, following a successful summer trial in the Food & Fun initiative with items like lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and green beans. Plans for the main primary menu included using Welsh organic lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and possibly apples, subject to confirming demand, volume, and Welsh suppliers through their current provider. The Member asked if there has been any progress in developing low-sugar dessert recipes that include vegetables, noting previous mention of carrot cake as an example. The Dietitian explained that while fruit-based desserts were easier to source, WG had asked for vegetable-based options, such as sweet potato or beetroot brownies. Ideas were limited, so they are working with Cardiff Met and conducting taste tests with pupils to develop suitable recipes, aiming to incorporate nutritional value into desserts. The Member praised the picture menus and asked for comments on whether serving two starchy carbohydrates, which is permitted under current regulations, was considered healthy. The School Catering Dietitian thanked the Member for the positive feedback and explained that, although two carbohydrates on one plate may seem unusual, the portion sizes met nutritional compliance standards and regulations, so the meal was balanced overall. The Chair thanked the Business Manager and Dietitian for their passion, expertise, and thorough responses, noting the complexity of factors they manage, from nutritional standards and food safety to hall sizes and time constraints. and praised catering staff for delivering an excellent service under challenging conditions. The Chair recommended writing to WG, on behalf of the Committee, to address indirect costs, particularly dietitian advice for medically prescribed diets, as failure to comply could have serious consequences, and whilst the 20p unit rate increase was welcome, it remained insufficient, through the Service Director - Democratic Services Welsh Language & Communication. It was RESOLVED to: 1. Acknowledge the contents of the report and note the impact of the proposed changes to the regulations as well as next steps. 2. Consider whether there are any aspects of the report that the Committee wish to scrutinise in greater depth.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED to continue the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, to allow consideration of the remaining agenda items and continuation of Council business.) It was RESOLVED to: 1. Consider responding as consultees upon the proposals detailed below in paragraph 4. 2. Consider as a committee, to provide further comments, observations or recommendations in respect of these proposals prior to Cabinet consideration. 3. Request the Service Director - Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications to provide Cabinet with the feedback of the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee.
The Chair began by reminding Members that the purpose of the report was for Committee Members to formally respond to the Council’snon-statutory consultation in respect of the Education Strategic Plan for 2026-2030. The Director of Education and Inclusion Services the took Members through the report. Following comprehensive responses received by the Director of Education and Inclusion Services and Senior Officers, to Members questions, in summary, the following points were discussed in relation to the Education Strategic Plan 2026 – 2030. · A Member asked about the development of community schools offering adult learning opportunities. They noted an 18% improvement over three years but only 26% of schools currently provided adult education classes. The Member stressed the importance of these opportunities for those who missed out on traditional education and asked whether the figure would continue to rise and if there was financial commitment to support this. · A Member noted the Minister’s recent statement on the need to expand access to vocational and technical qualifications and equalise entry into the tertiary sector. They asked what processes in the strategic plan ensured young and older people received appropriate advice and guidance to make informed choices, and what measures were in place to ensure cooperation between schools, colleges, and vocational training providers. · A Member asked how the authority was ensuring that vocational training courses were available through the medium of Welsh, given current gaps in college provision and concerns about take-up and delivery. · A Member welcomed collaboration with schools, highlighting Welsh-medium schools’ interest in developing vocational offers to sustain sixth forms and boost Welsh speakers in higher education. They questioned why Cyfleoedd+, a long-standing and successful initiative, was not acknowledged in the strategic plan beyond being listed as one of 11 pilot collaboratives. They expressed concern that grouping Cyfleoedd+, with its proven track record, with new pilots may not reflect its established effectiveness. · A Member acknowledged RCT’s significant investment in modern school facilities but stressed that without a sustainable, skilled workforce, high-quality education cannot be achieved. They asked what future steps will support schools in tackling workforce challenges, particularly recruitment and retention. · A Member referred to the consultation outlined on page 56 and asked whether the County Youth Forum had been involved. They noted focus groups with children, young people, parents, and carers took place in June but suggested the forum could also be consulted to capture its views. · A Member requested response rates and the number of responses from the engagement activities outlined on page 56, particularly for those completed in March, June, and July, as supplementary information. · A Member referred to strategic priority two on page 59 and suggested strengthening the wording, noting that “good” progression and outcomes felt too modest, and the plan should aspire beyond “good” toward excellence, which is reflected elsewhere in the report. · A Member supported Strategic Priority 4: delivering safe and sustainable communities for learning but suggested extending it to include “enabling innovative teaching practices and community engagement.” They noted the importance of using community spaces and schools as sustainable learning hubs, which had been a recurring theme in the recent task and finish group’s work. · A Member noted that 85% rated support for building management, maintenance, school organisation, and children looked after as good or excellent, and 80% rated school improvement support similarly. They felt these figures should be higher, particularly for school improvement, and expressed hope that recent changes would improve these percentages. · A Member emphasised the importance of effective leadership, echoing previous comments and, noted that the 90% target for governance and leadership on page 65 felt insufficiently ambitious and suggested aiming higher, despite recognising the challenges involved. · A Member queried the wording of the first bullet point on page 72 regarding ALN, suggesting it should read “clarifying which learners and how they get support” instead of “who and how learners get support”. · A Member pointed out that Strategic Priority 3 was missing from the rationale for prioritisation at the top of the page, noting this as a small but important formatting issue. · A Member expressed concern about the record high increase in elective home education, questioning whether the plan gave sufficient focus and suggesting it may require more detailed scrutiny in the future. · A Member highlighted ongoing difficulties for parents and carers navigating the complex ALN system and accessing timely advice. They referenced a recent University of Leeds and Cerebra report, Systems Generated Trauma, which examined the significant stress caused by the system itself, suggesting this may warrant further consideration. · A Member noted the upcoming leadership transition within the directorate and requested reassurance that this plan would be effectively managed through potential iterations and discussions during the changeover. · A Member welcomed the improved GCSE and A-level outcomes and the narrowing gap between RCT learners and the Wales dataset, noting these achievements should be congratulated and requested a breakdown to understand the details and build on this progress. · A Member raised concern about the sharp rise in post-pandemic exclusions and associated behavioural changes impacting learner outcomes and staff wellbeing. They requested the plan include detailed strategies for supporting students and staff, cautioning that simply reducing exclusions may be counterproductive and suggesting alternative or interim provisions. · A Member welcomed initiatives like the Green Light Project and the early pilot apprenticeship with Coleg y Cymoedd as positive steps to reduce NEETs, particularly in deprived areas. They requested future data and outcome tracking to assess impact and explore potential for wider policy adoption. · A Member welcomed comparative data showing a narrowing gap and expressed interest in the upcoming 14 – 19 report. They suggested receiving relevant data beforehand to ensure the report included substantive insights. · A Member highlighted concerns about social media’s impact on post-COVID mental health and well-being, noting the future use of AI in schools and referencing Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s. They called for stronger measures in the plan to balance these issues. · A Member noted that USW was undertaking significant STEM projects and emphasised its importance as a key partner for community engagement and aspiration. They suggested strengthening references to USW in the plan. · A Member suggested incorporating pupil pathway analysis by randomly selecting students across different school types and tracking their experiences through the system. They noted this approach could reveal insights on aspiration, behaviour, and outcomes beyond top-down data analysis. · A Member praised the visionary nature of the new plan, its focus on governance, and inclusion of measurable targets across strategic priorities. They noted, however, that Strategic Priority 4 had fewer measurable targets and asked whether this was intentional or an oversight. · A Member referred to Strategic Priority 2 and asked for clarification on the development of the digital strategy, its intended direction, and whether it included the use of AI. · A Member expressed concern about Strategic Priority 3 (ALN), noting references to budgetary and workforce challenges. They asked how the plan might need to adapt if funding cuts, or staff shortages occur. · A Member referred to stakeholder feedback about streamlining systems and adopting advanced digital platforms to improve efficiency and reduce workload. They asked if this related to the Portal, seeking clarity on its future and improvements given its current challenges for staff. · A Member asked how Strategic Priority 4 plans would deliver community benefits beyond new buildings and what metrics would be used to measure the impact of active travel initiatives. · A Member asked how the strategy would ensure interventions delivered value for money and what cost-benefit analysis would be undertaken for the plan. The Chair concluded by suggesting active travel could be included in future forward work programmes, possibly jointly with another committee, and also considering the digital strategy. She noted that if Bromcom and the Portal were not part of that strategy, these could be addressed under the annual ALN item to review and streamline current processes for staff. (Note: During consideration of agenda item 4, the Education Strategic Plan for 2026-2030 it was RESOLVED to continue the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 8, to allow consideration of the remaining agenda items and continuation of Council business.) It was RESOLVED to: 1. Consider responding as consultees upon the proposals detailed below in paragraph 4. 2. Consider as a committee, to provide further comments, observations or recommendations in respect of these proposals prior to Cabinet consideration. 3. Request the Service Director - Democratic Services, Welsh Language and Communications to provide Cabinet with the feedback of the Education and Inclusion Scrutiny Committee.
The Chair thanked all members for their engagement and Officers for their detailed responses. She formally recorded her gratitude to the Director of Education and Inclusion for her long and dedicated service, highlighting her professionalism, calmness under pressure, and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chair acknowledged the evolving challenges in education and expressed confidence in the Service Director for 21st Century Schools and Transformation to oversee the transition to the next strategy period. She wished the Director of Education and Inclusion a long, happy, and well-deserved retirement. The Chair reminded Members that the next meeting of the Committee on the 29th January, wouldonly takeplace virtuallybecause there wasanother meetingbeing heldin the chamber.
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