Agenda item

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Members sought clarification on how the Council planned to take forward its work with the Central South  Consortium to ensure it is focused on Cardiff’s priorities, particularly in relation to the Cardiff Commitment and the provision for vulnerable learners. Officers advised that the Council had met with senior leaders in the Consortium and shared with them its objectives which will feed into performance objectives for schools.

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Members enquired as to whether senior managers had discussed with head teachers and WG how schools will address the absence of a national accountability and assessment framework. Officers advised that the Council now has a more intelligent system for evaluating schools and that the new accountability and assessment framework would be built into it when it became available. The Council is in discussion with WG on the progress of the new framework.

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Members discussed the support being provided to schools to engage in the Rights Respecting Schools programme with more than 70 schools involved. The strength and capacity of governing bodies is being built to enable them to participate in holding schools to account.  The Council is working with the Swansea University Human Rights Observatory and UNICEF UK to ensure the proper evaluation of its work on children’s rights.

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Members queried what was preventing the remaining schools joining the Rights Respecting Schools programme. Officers advised that participation in the programme was gradually increasing. Support was being offered to schools to enable them to engage in the programme and assist them in progressing through its stages. Subsidies have been offered to help with registration fees. The Council is confident that all schools will eventually join the programme.

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Members requested information about the communication with parents in relation to the evaluation of schools and reform of ALN provision. Officers advised that the evaluation system is more intelligent and requires careful communication with parents. A school-based approach will be needed to ensure that parents understand the new system. Monitoring indicates that 92% of schools are ready for the ALN reform. The ALN reform is school is being supported by the Directorate and Central South Consortium.

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Members enquired about progress in respect of community-focused schools and the Team around the Schools approach. Officers advised that pilots were currently being undertaken at 3 schools. Capacity for future rollout would need to be assessed. There will need to be a link with the locality-based approach of Children’s Services.

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Members asked about the roll-out and implementation of the Cardiff 2030 strategy and were advised that the strategy was being reassessed in the light of the pandemic. The intention is not to alter the vision but to restate the short to medium term objectives to achieve the greatest impact in light of current knowledge. The Statement of Intent will be republished with a 3-year operational plan in readiness for the new academic year.

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Members sought information about the work being undertaken to ensure coordination between secondary schools and primary schools pursuing the new curriculum. Officers advised that the new curriculum was locality based, so primary and secondary schools in the same cluster will be working on a similar skills-based curriculum. Collaborative working between both Primary and Secondary schools is important in constructing the new curriculum. The curriculum may vary between different primary schools while having similar components. Although the implementation has been deferred schools remain focused on working towards it.

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Members were advised that there was a governor training tool that is used to audit the training required by governors.