Agenda item

To receive a presentation by the Central South Education Consortium on the Welsh Government School improvement guidance: framework for evaluation, improvement and accountability.  This will include an overview of the purpose and expectations arising from the new guidance; a summary of changes and implications; and accountability for schools, the council and the Consortium.   

The Chair advised the Committee that the item provided members with a presentation by the Central South Education Consortium on the Welsh Government's School Improvement Guidance Framework for Evaluation, Improvement and Accountability, including an overview of the purpose and expectations arising from the new guidance, and a summary of the implications and accountability for schools, the Council and the consortium.

The Chair welcomed Cllr Merry, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education; Melanie Godfrey, Director of Education and Lifelong Learning; and Geraint Lewis, Principal Improvement Officer for Cardiff Secondary and Special Schools, and Kate Rowlands, Principal Improvement Officer for Cardiff Primary and Special Schools, both from the Central South Education Consortium.

The Chair invited Geraint Louise and Kate Rowlands to make a presentation, during which they provided an overview and summary of the implications of, and major changes required by Welsh Government guidance; the role of governing bodies, LAs and consortia in accountability; the timeline for implementation; and planned CSC support.

The Chair invited Cllr Merry to make a statement, during which she expressed scepticism about the changes in terms of accountability and data.

The Chair invited Melanie Godfrey to make a statement, during which she emphasised the change in culture from accountability at LA level to support and collaboration with head teachers, and that accountability would lie less with the LA and more with school governing bodies and Estyn. The guidance sets out the roles and expectations for the LA, and the LA needs to develop a relevant scrutiny programme with the Committee.

Members were invited to ask questions and make comments, and the discussion is summarised below:

Members expressed the view that there was a lack of clarity in some aspects of the guidance, in particular around commonalities and comparisons between schools, public availability of outcomes, and data sources.

Members expressed concern about transparency and accountability in regard to governing bodies under the guidance.

RESOLVED:

To note the report.