To update Cabinet on the work to date of the strategic review into the development and rationalisation of the curriculum and estate provision of primary, secondary and post-16 education.

The Interim Corporate Director Education and Family Support reported on an update on the work to date of the strategic review in to the development and rationalisation of the curriculum and estate provision of primary, secondary and post-16 education. 

He stated that a Schools Task Group had been established to consider the way forward for schools within the County Borough and to ensure the Council continues to plan for and provide a high-quality education system for its young people, that gives them the very best opportunities for their lives in the 21^st century and builds upon the excellence and good practice already in the county.  Six work streams were established by the Schools Task Group and five principles were developed to underpin the process of developing and implementing school improvement proposals.  The Interim Corporate Director Education and Family Support informed Cabinet that due to a lack of expertise externally, a more cost effective approach had been undertaken by increasing and supporting internal resources to deliver a strategic review into the development and rationalisation of the curriculum and estate provision of primary, secondary and post-16 education and four work streams were established.  He presented a summary of each work stream and informed Cabinet of a proposal to close the Leadership and Collaboration and Curriculum and Workforce work streams as the Central South Consortium had initiated similar projects, on a regional basis.      

The Interim Corporate Director Education and Family Support reported on the School Modernisation Band B work stream whereby it was determined that the statutory duty on the Council to ensure there is sufficient supply of school places should take precedence over building condition.  The emerging priorities for band B were shared with the Welsh Government to assist them in establishing the potential funding requirement across Wales for the 21^st Century Schools and Education Programme.  He stated that the Welsh Government had also advised that a standardised cost would be applied to building elements, where appropriate, resulting in a maximum value for a school that can be benchmarked and inflated year on year.  Welsh Ministers confirmed that there would be a capital and revenue funding element to Band B, as with Band A, capital would be funded on a 50:50 intervention rate.   Work in developing a plan for promoting Welsh-medium education to 2050 is ongoing and is projected to be completed by the end of summer 2017.  The Interim Corporate Director Education and Family Support informed Cabinet that the work stream recommended that an options appraisal of secondary school catchments must be undertaken by 2022, plus work relating to area reviews; this work would help inform future bands of the programme and this was agreed by the over-arching review board.

The Interim Corporate Director Education and Family Support reported that the Post-16 Education work stream would be finalising its report in mid-September 2017 and making a detailed submission to Cabinet in October 2017.

The Leader in commending the proposals for the strategic reviews stated that Group Leaders and the Chairperson of the appropriate of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be consulted on future reports on the Band B programme.

RESOLVED:            That Cabinet:

(1)          Noted the recommendations of the Leadership and Collaboration and Curriculum and Workforce workstreams and the next steps for the School Modernisation Band B workstream which are detailed in appendix A-C;

(2)          Agreed the closure of the Leadership and Collaboration and Curriculum and Workforce workstreams with work transferring to CSC;

(3)          Agreed the closure of the School Modernisation Band B workstream through the strategic review with work progressing at an operational level with strategic oversight from the School Modernisation Board; and

Agreed to receive the full Post-16 Education report on 31 October 2017.