Agenda and draft minutes

The following Members made a declaration of interest at the commencement of the meeting:

Cllr. A.R.Lockyer       Re:        Report of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools – Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is a school governor within the County Borough but has dispensation to speak and vote and also has grandchildren who attend schools within the County Borough.

Cllr. P.A.Rees           Re:         Report of the Head of Transformation on the Strategic School Improvement Programme – Proposal to Establish Specialist Provision for Primary Age Pupils with Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties as he is a governor at Crynallt Primary School but has dispensation to speak and vote.

Re:         Report of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools – Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is a school governor within the County Borough but has dispensation to speak and vote and also has grandchildren who attend schools within the County Borough.

Cllr. H.N.James       Re:          Report of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is a Govenor at Llansawel Primary, a Shadow Governor at Ysgol Newydd Carreg Hir and a Shadow Govenor at Ysgol Cymraeg Bro Dur but has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. R.L.Taylor         Re:         Report of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as she is a governor at Eastern and groes Primary School but has dispensation to speak and vote and also has a Relative working in Baglan Primary School.

Cllr. M.Ellis            Re:             Report of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is a Governor of Ysgol Newydd Margam but has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr.J.D.Morgan    Re:             Reports of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is the Chair of Governors at Ysgol Gynradd Cymraeg Cwm-Nedd but has dispensation to speak and vote.

Cllr. R.Mizen        Re:              Reports of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he has grandchildren who attend schools in the County Borough.

M.Caddick           Re:               Reports of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as she has a Grandchild who attends schools in the County Borough

Cllr.S.Miller         Re:                Reports of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as she is a School Governor of Melin Primary School but has dispensation to speak and vote and also has Grandchildren in Melin Primary School.

A.Amor               Re:                Reports of the Head of Transformation on the Financing Schools - Reviewing the Funding Formula to Raise Standards as he is a Governor of YGG Rhosafan and YGG Ywern but has dispensation to speak and vote and also has a child in YGG Rhosofan.

Cllr. S.Renkes       Re:            Reports of the Head of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

The Committee noted the minutes

The Committee noted that the Co-Opted Members did not appear on the minutes as attendees. The Democratic Services Officer apologised for the administration error and would rectify the minutes so that accurate attendance is portrayed.

With the above amendments the Committee noted the minutes.

The Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

The Committee chose to scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items:

Cabinet Board Proposals

5.1     Education Lifelong learning Directorate Delivery Plan

Members were provided with information on the business plan for the Directorate of Education Leisure and Lifelong Learning 2017-20 as detailed in the circulated report.

Members asked how the number of Seven year old children were going to be encouraged to be educated through the Medium of Welsh. It was noted that it was a legal requirement to teach children through the Medium of Welsh and one way of meeting this requirement was by providing free transport to a welsh School through the Home 2 School transport. Officers highlighted that the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan is due to come to a future meeting which will make information more clear.

Members asked that Welsh Language Skills be included in the Adult Education targets.

Members queried about the provision of Nursery Education and to look to involve Flying Start when impacts are investigated in the School Improvement Programme. It was asked for the impact to be looked at when considering the Strategic School Improvement Programme. Officers confirmed that updates on Flying Start is scheduled in the Forward Work programme to be reported back to a future meeting and that the Strategic School Improvement Programme report is due to come to a future meeting and officers will consider the impact on flying start.  

Members asked who is invited to attend the well-being conference. Officers confirmed that every head teacher is invited to attend.

Members were concerned that the performance measure on page 32 of the circulated report ‘Improve the performance of boys in L2 by 2018 to 89%’ had reduced to 58.3%.

Members highlighted that the surplus places in Ysgol Newydd Briton Ferry and Ysgol Newydd Maram were not totalling correctly. Officers highlighted that when a new school is planned the catchment area is what is considered as opposed to the number of pupils that go to that school. The Officer agreed to explore this further with the relevant member.

Members asked if officers were confident that the standards are being met with the budget pressures. Officers confirmed that they are confident, however, if pressures get difficult then officers would relook at the priorities and targets.

Members asked for the Participation and Sport target to be increased.

Following scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the Cabinet Board.

5.2     Strategic School Improvement Programme - Proposal to Establish Specialist Provision for Primary Age Pupils with Social Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

          Members received information on proposed specialist provision for primary age pupils with social emotional and behavioural difficulties. The specialist provisions are to be located at Coedffranc Primary School and at Crynallt Primary School as detailed in the circulated report.

Members highlighted that staff would need to be suitably skilled and that appropriate training would have to be anticipated and that the impact would need to be evaluated over a 5 to 10 year period.

Following scrutiny, the Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.