Venue: Council Chamber - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
Contact: Charlotte Davies 01639 763745 Email: c.l.davies2@npt.gov.uk
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 73 KB Minutes: That
the minutes of the 12 September 2019, be approved. Valleys
Champion The
Chair sought nominations from the Committee for the new role of Valleys
Champion. Councillor D.Whitelock volunteered for the
role. |
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Declarations of Interest Minutes: The
following Members made declarations of interest at the commencement of the
meeting: Councillor
S.apDafydd Re: Item 4 of
the Cabinet papers re Home to School Travel Appeals procedure, and item 4 of
the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as he is a Governor at
St Joseph’s Catholic Comprehensive School and Sixth Form Centre and Ysgol Bae
Baglan. M.Caddick Re: Item
4 of the Cabinet papers re Home to School Travel Appeals procedure, and item 4
of the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as she has grandchildren
in schools within Neath Port Talbot, a grandchild using school transport and is
a governor of a school within Neath Port Talbot. Councillor
M.Crowley Re: Item 4
of the Cabinet papers re Home to School Travel Appeals procedure, and item 4 of
the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as he is a governor at
schools within Neath Port Talbot. Councillor
S.Harris Re: Item
4 of the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as she is governor
at Creunant Primary school. Councillor
J.Jones Re: Item
4 of the Cabinet papers re Home to School Travel Appeals procedure, and item 4
of the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as she has grandchildren
in schools within Neath Port Talbot and she is a governor at Pen Afan Primary
school. Councillor
D.Keogh Re: Item 4
of the Cabinet papers re Home to School Travel Appeals procedure, and item 4 of
the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as he is a governor at
Ysgol Cwm Brombil. Councillor
S.Miller Re: Item
4 of the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as she has grandchildren in Melin
Primary school and is Chair of governors at Melin Primary school. Councillor
R.Mizen Re: Item 4
of the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as he is a governor
at Ysgol Cwm Brombil and Cwmavon Primary school. Councillor
M.Protheroe Re: Item 4 of
the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as he is a governor at Cefn
Saeson Comprehensive school and Melin Primary school. Councillor
P.A.Rees Re: Item 4
of the Cabinet papers re Home to School Travel Appeals procedure, and item 4 of
the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as he is a governor at Cefn
Saeson Comprehensive school and Crynallt Primary school, and he has a
granddaughter who uses school transport. Councillor
S.Renkes Re: Item 4
of the Cabinet papers re Home to School Travel Appeals procedure, and item 4 of
the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as she is a governor at
Baglan and Blaen Baglan Primary schools. Councillor
S.Reynolds Re: Item 4 of
the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as she is a governor at
Ysgol Gwaen Cae Gurwen. Councillor
A.J.Taylor Re: Item 4
of the Scrutiny Committee papers re Admission to Schools, as he is a governor
at Eastern Primary school and has children in Ysgol Cwm Brombil. Councillor D.Whitelock Re: Item 4 of the Cabinet papers re ... view the full minutes text for item 2. |
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Minutes of Education through Regional Working (ERW) Joint Scrutiny Councillor Group PDF 61 KB Report
of the Chair of the Education, Skills and Culture Scrutiny Committee Additional documents: Minutes: Committee
was pleased to note that Members nominated from Neath Port Talbot had attended
every meeting they had been invited to, and were providing challenge. That
the minutes of the 3 June 2019, be approved. |
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Admission to Schools PDF 81 KB Report
of the Head of Transformation Minutes: Members
received information and data in relation to the admission of pupils to Neath
Port Talbot schools, and were pleased to note that every child who had applied
for a school place within Neath Port Talbot had received a place. There
had been a large scale movement of pupils, following in year transfer
applications totalling 925, in 2018/19. Members queried whether each of these transfers
had been relocated successfully and as per their first choice. Officers
explained that not all had got their first choice, some had had their second
choice and some had stayed in their original school, or chosen to appeal the
decision. The
new school in the area of Coed D’Arcy was discussed,
and it was noted that it had not yet been designated as an English or a Welsh medium
school. Welsh medium capital grants were expected within the next couple of
years which would ease current pressures in existing Welsh medium schools. It
was hoped the new school in Coed D’Arcy would be
built in 2021 – the admissions figures would be included in the report
following the opening. Members
queried what support was available to parents regarding the appeals process,
and noted that the appeals procedure was clearly set out for parents who chose
to make an appeal, and information was also available from education and legal
officers. The
high number of pupils in Dwr Y Felin
comprehensive school was discussed, and members noted that various factors
influence where children are placed, including parental choice, siblings in the
same school, the appeals process and the proximity of the homes of looked after
children. Contingency
plans were discussed should any local schools reach their capacity – catchment areas
could be altered, schools could be expanded, and the new school at Coed D’Arcy, would all be taken into account. Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted. |
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Pre-Decision Scrutiny Minutes: The
Committee chose to scrutinise the following Cabinet Board items: Home
to School Travel Assistance Appeals Procedure Officers
highlighted a typing error on page 14 of the Cabinet board papers, regarding the
Council’s Transport Group. The figures relating to the makeup of the Group were
incorrect, and would be amended prior to implementation. The
new second stage of the appeals process was explained. Members noted that
although it would increase the workload of officers within the Education
directorate, officers were there to help families. Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
Cabinet Board. Annual
Report on Young People who are not in Education, Employment or Training The
large amount of work that went into identifying young people not in education,
employment or training (NEETs) was noted. The figures in front of Members were
very transparent. Members
requested better clarity of labelling of graphs on subsequent reports. Following
Scrutiny, the report was noted. Curriculum for Wales 2022 – Presentation Members received a presentation on the new
curriculum which would be introduced to Wales from 2022. It was noted that each
school would design their own curriculum which would be suitable for the
community the school was in. A Curriculum Advisory Group had been established
within Neath Port Talbot, with the purpose of advising schools on dealing with
the radically different requirements. It was as yet, unclear what the end point would be
– whether there would be still be GCSEs and so on. There would, however, need
to be a change to the exam structure, as there would be a change to the
teaching. There was cross party support for the proposals which would not be
affected by a potential change of government at Westminster. Collaboration between teachers across different
schools would be encouraged to widen the knowledge base, instead of the
traditional method of going on a course. Professional learning money was still
available per member of staff, should schools still feel courses were of
benefit. It was noted that additional learning needs (ALN)
pupil’s curriculum would also be changing – this change would be presented in
the yearly ALN update, as well as in an all Member seminar on ALN reforms scheduled
for February 2020 Following Scrutiny, the presentation was noted. |
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Forward Work Programme 2019/20 PDF 73 KB Minutes: Site
visits for Committee Members to Ysgol Bae Baglan and Ysgol Bro Dyr were discussed. The Scrutiny officer would liaise with
Members to arrange. The
Committee noted the Forward Work Programme for 2019/20. |