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On 24 September 2026 the Education Scrutiny Performance Panel received three updates: on Partneriaeth, on the Swansea Skills Partnership, and on the effect of a falling birth rate on schools. It also noted the date of its next informal meeting, at St David's Catholic Primary School on 22 October 2026. The minutes record no decisions on the three updates; the Panel said its views would go to the Cabinet Member in a letter.
At its first meeting of the 2026/27 year, the Panel confirmed Councillor Lyndon Jones as Convener. It received updates on Religion, Values and Ethics education, the Curriculum for Wales and key issues in education, and accepted a report on the Panel's role. The minutes record no formal decisions on the updates, which will feed into a letter to the Cabinet Member. The 2026/27 work programme was not agreed. A draft will be circulated for comment.
The Education Scrutiny Performance Panel met on 16 April 2026 to discuss three items: an Estyn letter on a February 2026 visit to Swansea's secondary schools and Welsh-medium education, the council's additional learning needs (ALN) reform programme, and its capital programme for new and improved schools. The minutes record discussion only and no decisions. The Panel's letter to the Cabinet Member, dated 30 April 2026, sets out its views, welcoming progress and raising questions about funding, Welsh Government capital grants and forecasting pupil numbers.
The Panel received a briefing on young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), and on those at risk of becoming NEET. Cabinet Members and officers from education and social services gave information on Swansea's position, the support available, and its strengths and challenges. The minutes record no decision; the Panel's views are set out in a letter to the Cabinet Members dated 9 March 2026.
On 16 February 2026 the Scrutiny Performance Panel for Education considered the education part of Swansea Council's annual budget with the Cabinet Member for Education and Learning, Robert Smith, and the Director of Education, Helen Morgan-Rees. The Panel agreed a set of views to send to Cabinet on school funding, grants, school reserves, the music service, the capital programme and energy costs.
The Panel considered two reports: annual education performance against the Education Directorate's objectives, including progress on two 2022 Estyn recommendations, and progress with the Vulnerable Learners Inclusion Strategy. Both were for information, and the Panel asked questions and gave views. The Panel's letter of 6 January 2026 to the Cabinet Member, Councillor Robert Smith, sets out those views and does not require a formal response.
At its meeting on 20 November 2025, the Education Scrutiny Performance Panel was briefed on three topics: progress on the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan, literacy and reading support in schools, and careers advice including the draft Designing Destinations Strategy. The minute records no decisions. It says the Panel's questions and views would form part of a letter to the Cabinet Member, which is dated 8 December 2025 and says the Panel welcomed the draft careers strategy.
The Panel heard from Bishop Vaughan Catholic Comprehensive School about its approach to highly effective teaching, and from Partneriaeth, a support service shared by three councils, about its 2024-25 work and its 2025-26 business plan. The minutes record no decisions. The Panel said it would set out its views in a letter to the Cabinet Member.