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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme outlined in report COGC/82/23s be agreed.
AGREED – (i) That the schools be thanked for the informative presentations to Committee. (ii) That the Committee had received assurance regarding the implementation of the New Curriculum in all primary schools and the roll out across all secondary schools. (iii) That a further progress report be scheduled for 12 month’s time, with a focus on the roll out of the New Curriculum in secondary schools.
AGREED – That a further report be submitted to the meeting in May 2024 to include the following: · Details of the revenue budget outturn position in respect of school transport · Further details of improvements in the school transport budget forecasting arrangements
AGREED – That Brendan McDonald replace Glyn Williams on the School Improvement Monitoring Group.
Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Dana Davies and Dr Emily Clarke-Jones.
AGREED – That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 June 2023 be signed as a correct record.
Members were reminded of their responsibility, under Paragraph 11 of the Members’ Code of Conduct, to declare any interests in relation to any of the business to be transacted at this meeting. The following declarations were made: Agenda Item 5 Personal – Councillor Debbie Wallice (as an employee of St Mary’s School) and Councillor Robert Ian Williams (as a member of NEU). The Councillors remained in the meeting taking part in the discussion and voting thereon. Personal and Prejudicial – Councillors I David Bithell MBE, Tina Mannering and Alison Tynan (as LA appointed school governors). The Councillors remained in the meeting and claimed an exemption under Paragraph 12(2) of the Members’ Code of Conduct taking part in the discussion and voting thereon.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme outlined in report COGC/82/23s be agreed.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/82/23s) to consider the work programme of the Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee. Presenting the report, the Scrutiny Facilitator drew Members’ attention to: · the response of the Executive Board to the report and recommendations of the Committee regarding School Transport · the Committee Workshop on Priority Ranking of School Maintenance arranged for 28 November 2023 at 4pm at Ysgol Llan-y- Pwll · the suggested dates for meetings of the School Improvement Monitoring Group at paragraph 4.9 · the proposal to schedule a report in respect of Period Poverty in Spring 2024 The Chair thanked Committee members for their work and support in respect of post 16 school transport expressing frustration at the restriction on the ability of Officers to undertake work in this regard arising from the Executive Board recommendation that Officers await the publication of the wider national policy review of school transport prior to any further work being undertaken in the area of post-16 transport. These sentiments were shared by Committee members. It was requested that an update be circulated to Members of the Groves Task & Finish Group in respect of the results of the bid. AGREED – That, subject to the aforementioned, the work programme outlined in report COGC/82/23s be agreed.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – (i) That the schools be thanked for the informative presentations to Committee. (ii) That the Committee had received assurance regarding the implementation of the New Curriculum in all primary schools and the roll out across all secondary schools. (iii) That a further progress report be scheduled for 12 month’s time, with a focus on the roll out of the New Curriculum in secondary schools.
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COEEI/17/23s) to present information to the committee on the progress made to ensure that the requirements of the Curriculum for Wales are being met by Wrexham schools. In addition, to provide reassurance to the committee that Wrexham schools have access to, and are engaging with, a good level of high quality support as they continue to embed the Curriculum for Wales into their practice. The Chair welcomed to the meeting Fay Green – Headteacher of Wat’s Dyke CP School, Rachel Acton – Headteacher of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Kathryn Garratt-Smith – Deputy Headteacher of The Maelor, Penley and Einir Lois Jones – Deputy Headteacher of Ysgol Morgan Llwyd and invited them to share their experiences in preparing for the Curriculum for Wales. Members welcomed the presentations given by the school representatives and during debate made reference to the following matters: · the areas of challenge in implementing the new curriculum · budget pressures facing schools · challenges in appointing new teachers and teaching assistants, particularly in Welsh Medium schools · the shift in focus of the new curriculum to develop skills, knowledge and understanding was welcomed providing a transferable skill set for pupils · the positive comments in the relevant extracts from the Estyn inspections regarding the New Curriculum were noted and welcomed · the challenges faced by schools in respect of assessment guidance, the volume of change and the time taken to make the change to the curriculum AGREED – (i) That the schools be thanked for the informative presentations to Committee. (ii) That the Committee had received assurance regarding the implementation of the New Curriculum in all primary schools and the roll out across all secondary schools. (iii) That a further progress report be scheduled for 12 month’s time, with a focus on the roll out of the New Curriculum in secondary schools.
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That a further report be submitted to the meeting in May 2024 to include the following: · Details of the revenue budget outturn position in respect of school transport · Further details of improvements in the school transport budget forecasting arrangements
The Lead Member for Education submitted a report (COET/22/23s) to advise the Committee of work being undertaken to address the budget pressure within school transport provision. Presenting the report the Lead Member highlighted the key issues facing the service including significant inflationary pressures on contracts awarded, lack of capacity in the local operator market, an increase in the complexity of needs for those accessing ALN or other specialist transport and an estimated forecast budget pressure of £1.78m. He reported that previous challenges with the recruitment and retention of school escorts had improved. The service continued to progress efficiencies and find improvements supported by a newly appointed role Strategic Transport Lead and a fully complemented school transport team. Members considered the report and asked questions of the Lead Member and officers. During debate reference was made to the following matters: · the impact of the new 20mph national speed limit on contract costs. The officer reported that operators had been advised to monitor and evidence the impact so that the service could scrutinise the long term effect of the change · noted that whilst many of the proposed areas for review at paragraph 4.35 were reviewed every year some would be more appropriate for review more frequently · the increasing costs of out of county transport for both ALN and mainstream pupils · Noted that free school transport was not means tested · further information requested in respect of the changes to the budget forecast reduction arising from the changes proposed in the report. Noted that this would form the work of the School Transport Working Group. Committee requested to be updated on that work · clarification in relation to the improved budget monitoring processes referred to in paragraph 4.34 of the report. Noted that a new purchasing system allowed closer contract and budget monitoring and that the budget pressures in school transport had been recognised in the Council’s medium term financial plan · the process for school admissions and transport requests. Noted that mainstream applications closed March with notification to parents in June. ALN transport requests arose from a referral from the ALN team throughout the year AGREED – That a further report be submitted to the meeting in May 2024 to include the following: · Details of the revenue budget outturn position in respect of school transport · Further details of improvements in the school transport budget forecasting arrangements
Decision as recorded
AGREED – That Brendan McDonald replace Glyn Williams on the School Improvement Monitoring Group.
The Chief Officer Governance & Customer submitted a report (COGC/96/23s) to consider a change in the membership of the School Improvement Monitoring Task & Finish Group. The Scrutiny Facilitator reported that a vacancy had arisen owing to the resignation of Glyn Williams, co-opted member, due to work commitments. AGREED – That Brendan McDonald replace Glyn Williams on the School Improvement Monitoring Group.
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