Wrthi'n llwytho
Ystyriodd y Panel ddau adroddiad yn y cyfarfod hwn: presenoldeb mewn ysgolion a gwaharddiadau, a sut mae ysgolion yn gwella ansawdd addysgu a dysgu drwy glystyrau a gweithio rhanbarthol. Nid yw'r cofnod yn cofnodi unrhyw benderfyniad ar y ddau adroddiad, ac roedd y adroddiadau'n gofyn i gynghorwyr ystyried yr wybodaeth a rhoi eu barn. Derbyniodd y Panel hefyd ei gynllun gwaith ar gyfer 2024/25.
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The minutes of the meeting on the 12 December 2024 were approved as a correct record.
The letter to the Cabinet Member following the meeting on the 12 December 2025 was noted.
No public questions were received.
The Panel thanked the Cabinet Member, Director and the Team Manager for Vulnerable Learners for their detailed report providing information about school attendance and exclusion in Swansea schools. The report looked at school attendance, including discussing: · Academic year 2023-2024 attendance, including primary and secondary comparisons. · Incremental increase in attendance as a result of extensive work of schools and the education welfare service. · Education Welfare Service action plan written to support attendance in every setting in development. · Further research undertaken will also support future developments. This includes a scrutiny of fixed penalty notice data and pupil voice identified through the ‘Big Conversation’ on 28 January 2025 · Attendance figures for this academic year to date shows a few noticeable improvements, compared with the same reporting period last year. Specifically in Secondary schools and special schools, which show an increase of 1.2% and 0.6% respectively. There have been some exceptional increases noted in Bishop Gore, Bishopston, Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr and Penyrheol Comprehensive School · Future developments include continuation of the attendance project with Swansea University thus allowing greater analysis at both individual and school level; liaison with the partnership and involvement team to support further opportunities to understand parent / carer and learner voice specifically around attendance so these continue to inform policy The report looked at exclusions including: · It is reported nationally that behaviour in schools is becoming more challenging and this is reflected in Swansea schools. During the 2023-2024 academic year, school leaders and trades unions identified the changing behaviour landscape in schools as a major priority requiring a new approach and swift action. National data indicates an increasing trend in both fixed term and permanent exclusions from schools. While Swansea data compares favourably in comparison with national data, the increasing trajectory of exclusions is mirrored in Swansea. However, every exclusion is potentially a reduced life change for a learner and we must prioritise reducing exclusions. · Fixed term exclusions and permanent exclusions data and the work being done to address. · Wherever possible, inclusion officers have explored creative and alternative solutions to support schools to avoid exclusions. This is in recognition of the negative impact exclusions can have on the future life chances of our most vulnerable learners · Managed moves can be used when appropriate. · A new local authority behaviour policy is in development and will be look at by the Education Service Transformation Committee. The next steps will be to develop a school exemplar policy which can be adopted and personalised by schools to suit their individual contexts. This policy will mirror the local authority policy but include additional detail such as links to key documents and practical support (a toolkit) to help implementation of the school policy. A strategic implementation plan will also be developed to ensure that key strategic actions are captured and delivered effectively. The Panel discussed the update and raised the following issues, these and responses will be detailed in the letter to the Cabinet Member written following this meeting. · Recognising that each school setting is different, how are we sharing the good examples found in our schools to improve across all schools. · When absence becomes a concern what do you do, do you contact/visit the home.
The Principal School Improvement Adviser briefed the Panel on how schools are improving teaching and learning including in relation to cluster and regional working. The following was noted: · Improving teaching and learning is underpinned by robust self-evaluation and improvement planning. School improvement plans in Swansea have improved further as a result of LA professional learning and collaboration/support with our regional partners. · Schools collaborate well within traditional clusters. These are becoming even more focussed through robust transition plans that focus on supporting pupil progress and a better understanding of individual needs. · Schools are beginning to collaborate in non-traditional ‘cluster’ groups outside of their traditional secondary feeder group. In the best examples, these have a clear and common purpose, for example, improving pupils’ use of vocabulary. · Schools make good use of regional professional learning to support improvements in their pedagogical approaches. For example, high numbers of Swansea-based practitioners attend the ‘teach for purpose’ programme. As a result, schools’ improvement plans focus more sharply on improving specific outcomes for pupils, for example, questioning skills. · Practitioners engage well with regional subject-specific collaborative networks to support their professional needs. This includes work to upskill teachers in preparation for new GCSEs. · Swansea’s attendance at regional leadership development programmes, is proportionate. As a result, overall improvement planning is stronger and has a sharper focus on how to improve outcomes for pupils. · Swansea’s attendance at regional leadership development programmes, is proportionate. As a result, overall improvement planning is stronger and has a sharper focus on how to improve outcomes for pupils. The Panel discussed the update and raised the following issues, these and responses will be detailed in the letter to the Cabinet Member written following this meeting. · What does success look like and how is it measured for both the local authority and also Partneriaeth. · Change in emphasis from regional scrutiny to local scrutiny. Greater scrutiny at a Swansea level for Partneriaeth moving forward.
The work plan was accepted.
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.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.