Agenda item

This report provides the Committee with a progress report on the implementations of the actions agreed to address the Committee’s recommendations following its inquiry in 2015.

(a)   Councillor Sarah Merry (Cabinet Member, Education) has been invited to make a statement;

(b)   Nick Batchelar (Director of Education and Lifelong Learning) and Jackie Turner (Assistant Director of Education and Lifelong learning) will introduce the report and be available to answer questions;

Questions from Committee Members.

The Chairperson welcomed Councillor Sarah Merry (Cabinet Member, Education), Nick Batchelar (Director of Education and Lifelong Learning) and Jackie Turner (Assistant Director of Education and Lifelong learning) to the meeting.

The report provided the Committee with an updated progress report on the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations following the Cabinet Members positive response to the Inquiry report.

The Chairperson invited Councillor Merry to make a statement in which she said that there had been a big change since the introduction of the appointments panel, the calibre of applications coming in had shown it to be a success.  Governors were now also asked to identify a skill set on the application form and this could be matched to schools that needed these skills.  It was added that Governor Services was doing a good job at this.

The Assistant Director acknowledged the support she had received from Governor Services in preparing the report.  Members were provided with an outline of each of the recommendations from the report and the next steps.

The Chairperson invited questions and comments on the report from Members:

• Members asked if this was being facilitated in conjunction with the LGA and were advised that officers had met with the LGA and had had a good discussion, the LGA will write to the Welsh Government next and it was hoped that the Local Authority would respond fully to the recommendations.

• Members asked what the outcome would be in reality, whether people were being asked to do more even though not being paid, would there be more governors etc.  officers advised that the pressures on Governors is immense therefore there would be improved and increased support for new governors as the role can be intimidating; it was added that scrutiny could respond independently to the report and reflect on such pressures.

• Members asked if Governing Bodies are assessed on performance and if not how are they measured for effectiveness.  Members were advised that they rely on challenge advisors quite a bit; there was concern over the model of governance that the WG were consulting on and the position it leaves the LA in if enacted and things go wrong.

• It was noted that parent governors should receive in house training before starting their roles.  It was also noted that some training does not match the expectations of some challenge advisors especially in relation to understanding data and especially for parent governors.

• Members asked whether there had been many vacancies filled since the panel had been established; the Cabinet Member stated that the number had reduced but not by a huge amount.

AGREED – That the Chairperson on behalf of the Committee writes to the Cabinet Member conveying the observations of the Committee when discussing the way forward.