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Councillor Mogford asked: Following on from my question at full council regarding the Leaders initiative to visit to all the primary schools in Newport; Could you confirm how many times, since you picked up your current Cabinet portfolio for Education (in May 2021*) you have visited each of the two primary schools in the Bishton & Langstone Ward in your current official role, (excluding the visit where you accompanied the Leader in 2025 I believe). *Details below sourced via AI · May 2021 – Present: Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years · May 2022 – Present: Deputy Leader Councillor Davies responded: Individual school visits are an essential part of my role. However, I have had many other opportunities to meet with Children, staff, Headteachers and Governors from schools in both wards, at other occasions since beginning my role as Cabinet Member for Education in May 2021. These include Annual Newport Association of School Governors meetings, National Childrens Day events, Newport Pupil Grand Council, Newport Association of Head Teacher meetings and other high-profile events. It would be unusual for me not to meet with a member of the school community within a normal working week. Looking back at my diary, I can identify over 140 official school events that I have attended. This does not include the time I spend at the two schools where I am a governor. This is also enhanced with specific briefings from the Chief Education Officer around individual school attendance, School Development Plan progress, Estyn work, capital work and financial information. This results in me knowing and understanding Newport schools very well. I would like to remind Cllr Mogford that between May 2021 and summer 2022 teaching staff in mainstream schools were still using routine covid tests twice weekly. Only essential visitors were advised to attend schools. Estyn did not complete their first face to face visit in a Newport school until May 2022. There was a very limited window in the autumn term of 2021 before lockdowns recommenced when visits were allowed, where I managed to visit 8 schools. Lockdowns were then reintroduced in the late autumn of that year. From early spring 2022 when covid restrictions again lifted but with a break for the election period and until January 31st, 2023. I recommenced visits to Newport schools and in this period visited 25 schools. However, my schedule was again paused as the National Association of Head Teachers in Wales began Action Short of Strike. Local authority visit to school were authorised to recommence in late spring of 2023 which then ran into a pre-election period. Despite these adjournments I carried out 28 visits when I was allowed to. There was also an additional break during the 2024 election period. While my visits to the school sites within the Bishton and Langstone wards only took place once and in conjunction with the Leader of Newport City Council, this overview, clearly demonstrates that this is not the only connection or relationship that I have had with Llanmartin Primary and Langstone Primary School. Visits are always prearranged, and a good proportion have been at the express request or invitation from children, staff or the Head Teacher. It’s an honour to be invited to the important events that occur within a school year.
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