Agenda item

Council received the report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Democratic Services in relation to the Draft Annual Report for 2014-15 entitled ‘Rising to the Challenge’, which was attached to the circulated report at Appendix 1.

Members commended the investment work being carried out in Town Centres together with the new Leisure Centre at Aberafan Beach.

In relation to the fixed exclusion of primary school children, Members asked what was provided during the 2 terms the pupils were excluded and were advised that there was small provision, although this would be strengthened.

Members also requested that the statistics around the foundation phase be provided for Members’ information.

Members noted that Looked After Children had the support of the Youth Service and Route 16 in order to prevent them becoming a   ‘NEET’ (Not in Employment Education of Training).  This proved a challenge in some cases due to the complex nature of their individual needs.

Members asked for feedback on the new Welsh school consultation which recently ended, including the anticipated opening date. Officers advised that the Statutory Notice had been published resulting in 5 comments being received.  These would be included in the report to be considered by Cabinet on 4 November 2015.

Member requested details of the assessments referred to in EDU/003, EDU/015a and EDU/004, and noted that these were teacher assessments.  A pilot scheme had been undertaken in May 2015 to evaluate the assessments carried out by teachers in order to have confidence in their continual assessments.

Members were pleased that to date there had been no compulsory redundancies, but were concerned that this would become increasingly more difficult year on year.

An update in relation to the Strategic School Improvement Programme was requested as it related to the Faith School wherein it was noted that the proposal to replace Saint Joseph’s Comprehensive School with Dyffryn Comprehensive School in the current tranche was with Welsh Government for approval.  A report would be presented to Members once confirmation had been received.

In relation to Improvement Objective 2, concern was expressed that the performance at Key Stage 2 and 3 was slipping.  However, Officers responded that although pupil performance according to teacher assessment at Key Stage 2 and 3 had decreased in 2015, our performance at Key Stage 4 still compares favourably nationally.  This is despite the fact that our free school meal profile, used by Welsh Government as a proxy indicator of performance, has increased to the second highest in Wales.

Officers welcomed Welsh Governments intention to introduce common verification of teacher assessment across Wales following the pilot that was run this year.  This will increase confidence in these outcomes.  It was noted that assessment should inform the next steps in the pupils’ learning, therefore securing its accuracy and quality is of the utmost importance.  Officers would by working with ERW to secure an improvement in the accuracy and quality of Key Stage 2 and 3 assessments.

Following discussions, the Deputy Leader, Councillor P.A.Rees, commended the report to Council for adoption.

RESOLVED:      That the Draft Annual Report for 2014-15 entitled ‘Rising to the Challenge’, as contained at Appendix 1 to the circulated report, together with summary, be adopted and that the Head of Corporate Strategy and Democratic Services be given delegated authority to make any further changes necessary prior to its publication, that do not materially change the content therof, in consultation with the Leader of Council and the Chief Executive.