Agenda item

The Committee received the Strategic School Improvement Programme – A Report On A New 21^st Century School Build as contained within the circulated report.

Members referred to point 19 on page 17 of the report which stated that 27% of pupils had additional learning needs, and queried whether these learning needs were considered minimal, moderate or significant, or if there was a mix. Officers informed Members that there was a mix.

Members questioned how the Key Stage Four results at the new school compared to the Key Stage Four results at the previous schools. Officers explained that it was difficult to compare as they were different cohorts and there was a higher number of pupils in the previous schools with learning needs which made it difficult to compare. Officers stated that the results in the new school were higher than expected and exceeded the targets that had been set.

Members queried whether absences for the old cohorts had been recorded at the new school. Members added that when the previous schools were in existence it was anticipated that attendance figures for the following tern were due to decline. Officers explained that the information was no longer recorded for the old cohorts. Officers stated that attendance at Ysgol Bae Baglan was generally of a good standard. Officers informed Members that the Education and Welfare Officers had reported no real issues under the new school arrangements. Members stated that it was important to track issues regarding absences from the old schools through to new schools in order to establish whether the issues had been addressed under the new school arrangements, so that lessons could be learnt for the future. Officers explained that 40% of the children who were in the previous schools had not moved to the new school and there was a risk that any data and analysis could be inconclusive. Officers stated that work would be undertaken with the school to identify pupils from the old cohorts in order to compare absence rates under the previous and current schools. 

Members requested for the Mike Tate from Ysgol Bae Baglan to be invited to a future meeting to give a presentation on their experiences and the lessons learnt.  Officers stated that they would invite the relevant officer to a future meeting.

Members referred to point four on page 14 regarding the review with key focus groups and questioned the format of the review. Officers explained that focus groups were preferred to surveys, and were held over a day and a half. Officers added that other reviews such as the Safeguarding review was also taken into consideration. Members queried whether parents had been included in the review. Officers stated that parents had not been included in the review due to time constraints, but it was anticipated that governors would have raised similar issues.

Members complimented officers on the seamless transition from the previous schools to Ysgol Bae Baglan, and on the good work carried out to date.

Following scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.