To
select appropriate items from the Cabinet Board agenda for Pre-Decision Scrutiny
(Cabinet Board reports included for Scrutiny Members)
Decision:
Admission to Community Schools – School Admission
Policy (back from Consultation)
Following scrutiny, the
committee supported the recommendation to Cabinet Board.
Adult Learning
Following scrutiny, the
committee noted the report.
Comedy Festival
Following scrutiny, the committee noted the report.
Annual Pupil Performance Report
Following scrutiny, the committee noted the report.
Minutes:
Admission to Community Schools – School
Admission Policy (back from Consultation)
Members expressed concern that some schools are
oversubscribed due to the admission of preferred placements; pupils moving into
the area during the academic year may have to travel great distances for a
school place. Members asked whether representation could be made to Welsh
Government for increased in-year availability.
The Head of Education Development noted the
comments.
Following scrutiny, the
committee supported the recommendation to Cabinet Board.
Adult Learning
Members asked for further
information in relation to the spread of courses available in outlying
communities.
Officers confirmed that a
large number of courses were run at the main Tir Morfa centre due to
difficulties in securing suitable venues. Welsh Government guidelines require a
minimum of eight participants per course, where this is not possible, courses
are offered on a hybrid basis. An Engagement Officer has been employed to work
with hard to reach communities. Digital inclusion officers are working in
communities to support people to increase their digital skills.
Members questioned whether
the service had links to Flying Start parenting courses as a means of
supporting parents to improve school attendance.
Officers advised members that
work has been undertaken in partnership with Flying Start, Community Focused
Schools, Family Information Service and Team around the Family to signpost
people to relevant courses. The Learning Engagement Officer regularly attends
events in outlying areas and learning events are arranged where there is
sufficient demand. Communities are consulted via Social media channels to
identify what courses are required. Officers advised members that the
Engagement Officer would welcome communication from members to identify any
training gaps in their areas.
Members asked if there were
any links to adult learners through youth groups.
Officers confirmed that there
was a good working relationship between Adult Learning and the Youth Service
and links between the services would be explored further.
Members commented that the
amount of available courses was encouraging but suggested it would be useful
for the information to be disseminated to all members. Officers agreed to
forward information to all members in relation to their engagement work and
further discussions with members would be welcomed.
Members referred to page 230
of the report contained within the agenda pack, and asked for clarification
regarding the role of the Adult Learning in the Community Manager in
co-ordinating a project aimed at promoting and supporting local ‘retrofitting’
opportunities.
Officers confirmed the work
was being undertaken in partnership with schools and colleges to help people to
upskill and gain qualifications. The project has been ongoing for under a year
and has helped to promote the energy agenda and allow people to
upskill.
Following scrutiny, the
committee noted the report.
Comedy Festival
Members questioned whether there would be an appropriate cross section of small venues throughout the county borough.
The Head of Leisure, Tourism, Heritage and Culture advised members that it was hoped the festival would grow over the coming years. A small amount of funding was available through the Shared Prosperity Fund but details of any other funding opportunities would be welcomed.
Officers advised members that work has been ongoing to
secure acts at the main theatres with other events planned for smaller venues
in valley communities. Venues are yet to be finalised but will include a mix of
rugby clubs, community centres and private venues for mid-week performances.
Tickets for each venue will be subsidised and the aim is for audiences of 30/40
people at the smaller venues.
Members expressed concern regarding the potential for inappropriate content and expressed the importance of some family friendly events.
Officers confirmed that all parties would be briefed to understand the inclusive aim of the festival. Some of the fringe activities will involve performances directly aimed at children. Performances are planned for town/village centres and also residential homes. Comedy will be of an appropriate type for the venue.
Members supported the festival and commented that Aberafan beach could be used for future events to hold open air shows. Members noted the importance of increasing the tourist draw to Aberafan beach and suggested comedians could be used to promote the seafront.
The Head of Leisure, Tourism, Heritage and Culture thanked members for their comments. The initial festival would be limited by the funding available but it is hoped the festival will grow in subsequent years.
The Cabinet Member for Nature, Tourism and Wellbeing thanked officers for their work to date. The festival would be an event for the whole of Neath Port Talbot with a diverse variety of venues and include the Welsh language.
Following scrutiny, the committee noted the report.
Annual Pupil Performance Report
Members acknowledged that the rise in exclusion rates was a national issue but noted the above national average exclusion data for pupils in Neath Port Talbot. In relation to the new Curriculum for Wales, members queried how information would be gathered going forward as teacher assessments were no longer being submitted to the local authority or Welsh Government.
The Head of Education Development confirmed that there has been a move from testing pupils; schools are working towards continual progression and assessment, to better support young people and their families. Further information from the Welsh Government in relation to qualifications is awaited. In relation to exclusions, comparisons are not made to other authorities. The focus is on working with partners to support pupils, families and schools within Neath Port Talbot in a timely way. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of teaching which will impact on the quality of learning. Work is also ongoing to improve provisions to ensure pupil’s needs are met and with the Early Years team on early identification.
Members asked for further clarification on how information is captured and feedback into the system.
The Head of Education Development advised members that progression steps are being measured, schools will have an idea of the potential of individual pupils or cohort of pupils. Work is ongoing on Educational Learning Pathways; children who are not following the curriculum may be educated at skill centres or work with businesses as junior apprentices. A continuous monitoring system is in place but information is not collated as it was previously. The aim is to provide positive feedback to enable pupils to make daily progress.
Members expressed interest in Key Stage 3 results in relation to Welsh first language pupils, this was the only area where indictors had not dropped compared to the previous year. Members questioned why this was the case and whether there were any other correlations.
The Head of Education Development advised members that work is ongoing to learn from the data and try to replicate the results in other schools. However, the profile of Welsh medium schools shows significantly lower number of pupils entitled to Free School Meals and lower levels of Additional Learning Needs.
Members commented that work was needed to encourage various categories of families to attend first language Welsh education to ensure a good spread in those schools.
The Cabinet Member for Education stated it was important to look at the contextual data, Neath Port Talbot has some of the most deprived areas in Wales, with high levels of free school meals and additional learning needs. The Cabinet Member stated that many pupils who wouldn’t be succeeding previously have moved up into higher qualifications. There is a need to tie in with the Childrens pathway, with earlier intervention and support for the family.
The Chair thanked officers for their hard work in this area and acknowledged it was a difficult task.
Following scrutiny, the committee noted the report.