To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008 (including whipping declarations)

The following Declarations of Interest were made:

Councillor N Burnett declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomes as her son attends Brynteg Comprehensive School.

Councillor J-P B Blundell declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomes as a governor of Cefn Glas Infants School. 

Councillor B Sedgebeer declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomes as a governor of Pencoed Comprehensive School and Croesty Primary School. 

Rev Canon E Evans declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomes as he is a governor of Bryntirion Comprehensive School and his wife works for the Inclusion Service.

Councillor AJ Williams declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomes as a governor of Coety Primary School and she has a child who attends Brynteg Comprehensive School.

Councillor R Stirman declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomes as a governor of Tynyrheol Primary School. 

Councillor C Webster declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomesshe has a child in

Secondary education in the County Borough. 

Councillor TH Beedle declared a personal interest in agenda item 4 – Education Outcomes as he is the Chair of the Bridgend Governors Association. 

To receive for approval the minutes of the meeting of 03/12/2018

RESOLVED:           That the minutes of the meeting of the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1 of 3 December 2018 be approved as a true and accurate record. 

Invitees:-

Lindsay Harvey, Corporate Director - Education and Family Support

Cllr Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration

Nicola Echanis, Head of Education and Family Support

Andy Rothwell, Central South Consortium Senior Challenge Advisor

Mike Glavin, Managing Director Central South Consortium

Sarah Merry, Chair of Central South Consortium Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Educational Representatives:

Neil Clode,

Hannah Castle

Andrew Slade 

Jeremy Evans

Lisa James-Smith

Meurig Jones

Angela Keller 

Jeremy Thompson

Carmen Beveridge

Rhiannon Dixon

The Committee received a report which provided information relating to school categorisation, pupil attainment (including pupils with additional learning needs), challenges faced by schools and the work of the Central South Consortium.

The Corporate Director Education and Family Support clarified an inaccuracy in the report and commented that Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd leads and fully attends the Welsh Medium Hubs connected with Gyda’n Gilydd and Cyfleoedd+, which are which are funded through the Consortium, but also the work the school does with Cydag.  The work of YG Llangynwyd had been noted within past Challenge Advisor reports and visits and that engagement happens across Welsh medium schools across the Consortium.

The Senior Challenge Advisor reported on the school categorisation information for 2018-19, which is currently being moderated and verified and due for release in February 2019.  He highlighted the support categories of Bridgend schools over the last 3 years.  He informed the Committee that most schools have shown an improvement in post-16 outcomes from a comparable baseline in 2011-12 and he illustrated the performance of Bridgend’s secondary schools performance for the Level 3 threshold for pupils achieving 2 or more A levels A* to E.  The Committee was further provided with information on the ranking of Bridgend schools for key stage 4; outcomes for foundation phase Outcome 5+and 6+; key stage 2; outcomes for key stage 2 Level 4+ and 5+ and key stage 3; outcomes for key stage 3 Level 5+, 6+ and 7+.  He stated that targets and actuals in key stage 2 were closely aligned with all targets being missed or exceeded by a small margin.  For key stage 3, at level 5, targets were missed by a slightly wider margin than key stage 2,  this is being addressed by Challenge Advisers to ensure that as many pupils as possible reach their targets and narrow the gap.  Targets at Level 2+ threshold were missed by 7.8%, which requires further reduction to bring it in line with performance in 2015-16.  He stated that the reduction represents a better understanding of the revised exam specification and the work that Challenge Advisers have undertaken in supporting schools. 

The Committee asked what steps the Consortium is taking to get schools back to the Green category.  The Senior Challenge Advisor informed the Committee that where a school moves from the Green to Yellow categorisation it demonstrates that it is getting the required support.  Schools in the Yellow category may get 10 days of support per year and schools will change during the year through leadership.  The Assistant Managing Director of the Consortium informed the Committee that schools might have moved to the Yellow categorisation as they have identified the support needed.  He commented that categorisation will have changed this year. 

The Committee requested clarification of the support offered to schools.  The Senior Challenge Advisor commented that a range of bespoke packages are offered to schools, with a very strong core support team in place.  No schools are ever off the radar of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Forward Work Programme and informed the Committee that following a meeting of the Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny Committees Chairs the Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 3 at its meeting would consider a report on the Homelessness Strategy and that members of this Committee would be invited to attend.

To consider any item(s) of business in respect of which notice has been given in

accordance with Part 4 (paragraph 4) of the Council Procedure Rules and which the person presiding at the meeting is of the opinion should by reason of special circumstances be transacted at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.