Agenda and minutes

Subject Overview and Scrutiny Committee 1 - Wednesday, 30th October, 2019 09:30

Venue: Council Chamber, Civic Offices Angel Street Bridgend CF31 4WB. View directions

Contact: Michael Pitman 

Items
No. Item

85.

Declarations of Interest

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)

Minutes:

Review of Post 16 Education Provision Across Bridgend, Phase 4 Report. 

 

Cllr T Beedle declared a personal interest in this item for the following reasons:

  • Member of Post 16 Working Group
  • Chair of Bridgend Governors Association
  • LEA Governor at Maesteg Comprehensive
  • His granddaughter was a pupil at Brynteg Comprehensive
  • He had grandchildren in feeder schools – Nantyffyllon and Garth Primary Schools.

 

Cllr JP Blundell declared a personal interest in this item for the following reasons:

  • LEA Governor at Bryntirion Comprehensive
  • Community Governor at Cefn Glas Infants

 

Cllr N Burnett declared a personal interest in this item for the following reasons:

·         Child in Brynteg

·         LEA Governor of Brynteg Comprehensive and Penybont Primary.

 

Cllr K Rowlands declared a personal interest in this item because she had a child attending one of the schools that could be discussed in the meeting.

 

Cllr C Smith declared a personal interest in this item because he was a Governor at Bridgend College.

 

Cllr R Stirman declared a personal interest in this item because she was a non LEA Governor at Tynyrheol Primary School.

 

Cllr Alex Williams declared a personal interest in this item because he was an LEA Governor at Pencoed Comprehensive.

 

Cllr Amanda Williams declared a personal interest in this item because she had a son in Brynteg Comprehensive.

 

L Morris, Registered Representative, Secondary Schools Sector declared a personal interest in this item because her son attended Maesteg Comprehensive School.   

 

86.

Review of Post-16 Education Provision Across Bridgend Phase 4 Report pdf icon PDF 91 KB

Invitees

 

Lindsay Harvey, Corporate Director - Education and Family Support

Cllr Charles Smith, Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration

Nicola Echanis, Head of Education and Early Help

Andy Rothwell, Senior Challenge Advisor, CSC

Andrew Williams, Acting Managing Director, CSC

Megan Lambert, Youth Mayor

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairperson welcomed Megan Lambert, Youth Mayor to the meeting.

 

The Specialist Officer: Post 16 Education and Training presented a report informing the committee of the progress made on the proposals for Post 16 provision (Phase 4) and asking them to consider the draft consultation paper before the matter went before Cabinet for a decision. He outlined the background to the review and how Cabinet had approved for further analysis, three options from the original six concepts.  

 

The Specialist Officer: Post 16 Education and Training explained in detail the strengths and weaknesses of the various options and the key drives for an effective sixth form provision. He outlined the issues in relation to both the existing local development plan (LDP) and the new LDP to cover the period from 2021-2033. 

 

Members were invited to ask questions on the individual options.

 

 

Option 1

 

A member asked if in the event of two schools merging, would pupils from those schools have prior access to sixth form places over pupils from other schools? The Corporate Director Education and Family Support explained that the admission arrangements had yet to be determined but he envisaged that they would cater for learners from those schools first but they had to be mindful of legislation. The Specialist Officer: Post 16 Education and Training added that he expected this to be picked up when the admissions criteria was redrafted.

 

A member asked how the balance between academic and vocational specialisms would be addressed in sixth form centres. The Specialist Officer: Post 16 Education and Training explained that of the 30 level 3 subjects, 5 had to be vocational however they would like to see a greater mix and parity. New subjects were available through twilight sessions at Bridgend College and with larger settings they could provide more options. The Corporate Director Education and Family Support explained there could be an increase in school transport costs and that Post 16 Transport was currently out for consultation and there was an overlap between both issues.

 

A member referred to transport, the outcome of the Post 16 Transport Consultation and acceptable travel time. The Corporate Director Education and Family Support acknowledged that some groups of learners would find it difficult if transport was removed. He added that they tried to limit travel times to less than 40 minutes.

 

The Cabinet Member for Education and Regeneration stated that looking to the future, e-learning would play a significant part in future plans. A member stated that he welcomed e-learning and could not understand why travel would be an issue if a student could participate in a lecture from their own home. The Specialist Officer: Post 16 Education and Training reported that work was already being done to deliver a maths project online and they needed to consider models that had been adopted successfully. 

 

A member asked the Youth Mayor if she thought blended learning was the way forward. She replied that the rapport she had with her teachers could not be built online  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86.

87.

Forward Work Programme Update

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.

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Officer presented the Forward Work Programme and informed the Committee that following a meeting of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, there would be budget meetings the first week of January and the Committee would consider a report on Education Outcomes at its 3rd February 2020 meeting. Members suggested that Post 16 Education be added to the February meeting subject to the report being ready in time.

 

88.

Urgent Items pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None