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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – (i) That the updated work programme be agreed. (ii) That representatives from Minera Aided Primary School be invited to attend a future meeting of the School Improvement Monitoring Group.
AGREED – (i) To recommend to the Executive Board that some preparatory work is undertaken on the review of post-16 transport, prior to the outcome of the Welsh Government review of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008. (ii) To seek further advice regarding the impact of the Executive Board decision in respect of post-16 transport on the scrutiny function. (iii) That, subject to the above, a further report is submitted to the September/October meeting of the Committee to consider the Flintshire policy regarding the transport for post-16 pupils, whether it differentiates between school sixth forms and sixth form colleges, and to include costings. (iv) To thank the Officers and Lead Member for the progress report.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Frank Hemmings and Alison Tynan.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the updated work programme be agreed. (ii) That representatives from Minera Aided Primary School be invited to attend a future meeting of the School Improvement Monitoring Group.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/43/23s) to consider the work programme of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee. Presenting the report the Scrutiny Facilitator referred to: · A data sharing session for Committee members would be held on 8 June at 4pm to consider information in respect of the PASS survey. · School Transition – the report to Committee in November would include details of Wrexham pupils attending schools out of county and what actions are in place to encourage Wrexham pupils to attend local schools. · Education Estate – Capital Investment - Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme. Requested that the Chief Planning Officer to circulate briefing paper to Members of the Committee explaining how Section 106 Agreements work in respect of education provision, how many have been consulted on with Education over the past few years and in which areas/schools provision has been allocated. In addition the Chief Planning Officer would be invited to attend the meeting in December when the Committee consider the proposals for the next 9 year rolling programme. The Chief Officer Education & Early Intervention provided an update to Committee in respect of Rhosnesni High School who had been removed from special measures following a successful monitoring visit and extended her congratulations to the school. She further reported that St Christopher’s School had received a very positive report following its recent Estyn inspection which reflected the care, support and guidance offer at that school. Members were informed that Minera Aided Primary School had been placed in special measures following its recent inspection. Whilst there were many positives in the inspection report, there were areas that required improvement. She suggested that representatives from the school be invited to attend a meeting of the School Improvement Monitoring Group. AGREED – (i) That the updated work programme be agreed. (ii) That representatives from Minera Aided Primary School be invited to attend a future meeting of the School Improvement Monitoring Group.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) To recommend to the Executive Board that some preparatory work is undertaken on the review of post-16 transport, prior to the outcome of the Welsh Government review of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008. (ii) To seek further advice regarding the impact of the Executive Board decision in respect of post-16 transport on the scrutiny function. (iii) That, subject to the above, a further report is submitted to the September/October meeting of the Committee to consider the Flintshire policy regarding the transport for post-16 pupils, whether it differentiates between school sixth forms and sixth form colleges, and to include costings. (iv) To thank the Officers and Lead Member for the progress report.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COET/08/23) to advise the Committee of the current challenge within the provision of school transport, with specific focus on school escorts and post-16 transport; and to update them on a range of actions being taken / considered to address the challenge. Presenting the report the Lead Member referred to the responses to the Committee’s previous recommendations contained in the report, the decision taken by the Executive Board to await the outcome of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 prior to any further work being undertaken in respect of post 16 school transport and the pressures on the school transport budget to deliver on statutory duties. The Chair welcomed the Deputy Headteacher and pupils from Ysgol Morgan Llwyd and the Head Teacher from The Maelor School Penley who were in attendance at today’s meeting and invited them to share their experiences and concerns relating to post 16 school transport. Considering the report and the representations made by school representatives Members asked a number of questions and during debate made reference to the following matters: · The cost of living crisis and the added barriers of the cost of post 16 school transport. · Concern that the current policy was putting further education provision in Wrexham at risk if pupils were unable to afford to attend. · The impact on the future ability to recruit to Welsh speaking posts and the impact upon the economy. · The reduction in cost of concessionary seats was welcome , however, these seats were not guaranteed and could be withdrawn at any time if demand for statutory seats increased. · Difficulties in respect of public transport availability particularly in rural areas. · The policies of neighbouring authorities providing free post 16 transport. Requested that further information in this regard be provided to Committee. · Officers agreed to clarify the position in respect of school transport to schools in a neighbouring authority. It was noted that the provision allowed for parents for whom their nearest school was in England to choose Welsh curriculum education in Wales should they wish. · Requested that data relating to NEETs and percentage of pupils attending further education from the year 2018 be provided to Committee members. · The Lead Member confirmed that the Transport service would strive to ensure that concessionary seats were offered before the summer break going forward. · Reported that WG had contacted the Transport service to recommence work in respect of the review of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure. Officers agreed to feedback the views of the pupils and Head Teacher present at the meeting regarding the problems experienced in accessing post-16 transport along with the Minutes of the meeting as part of the Council’s response. · Noted that the Lead Member with responsibility for Strategic Transport had raised concerns regarding public transport and the impact on post 16 transport at a meeting at the Senedd of the Climate Environment and Infrastructure Committee earlier today. · Suggestion for Officers to explore the possibility of using bigger buses for statutory school transport to accommodate requests for fare paying concessionary seats and guaranteeing concessionary seats once allocated for the whole school year. · Confirmation given that transport provision for Year 6 pupils on transition days would be offered. · Requested that a breakdown of the estimated £1m additional cost of providing post-16 transport be provided. Officers confirmed that the figure in the report was only an estimate and a more detailed piece of work would be required. · Frustration that the Executive Board decision appeared to restrict the work that officers could undertake in respect of the review of the post 16 transport policy. · Committee noted the actions to retain and recruit school escorts. · The importance of communication of the appeals process for hazardous routes in the event that an application was refused. Requested that Members be provided with details of the criteria for determining hazardous routes. AGREED – (i) To recommend to the Executive Board that some preparatory work is undertaken on the review of post-16 transport, prior to the outcome of the Welsh Government review of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008. (ii) To seek further advice regarding the impact of the Executive Board decision in respect of post-16 transport on the scrutiny function. (iii) That, subject to the above, a further report is submitted to the September/October meeting of the Committee to consider the Flintshire policy regarding the transport for post-16 pupils, whether it differentiates between school sixth forms and sixth form colleges, and to include costings. (iv) To thank the Officers and Lead Member for the progress report.
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