erw scrutiny councillor group · letter and notes accepted. the councillor group were disappointed...
TRANSCRIPT
ERW Scrutiny Councillor GroupDate 3 June 2019
Time 10.30 am – 2.00 pm
Venue: Room 3, Pembrokeshire Archives Office, Haverfordwest, SA61 2PE
Agenda Item 10.30am 1 Arrival and welcome to Pembrokeshire
Welcome to Pembrokeshire and introduction to meeting
2 Apologies for Absence3 Declarations of Interest
10.35pm 4 Letters, notes and other issues arising from the ERW Councillor Group on 25 March 2019a) ERW Councillor Group Chairs letter to the ERW Joint Committeeb) Notes of meeting
10.45am 5 Terms of Reference and Future Work Programmea) Amended ERW Councillor Group current Terms of Referenceb) ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group Draft Work Programme 2019-20
11.00am 6 Updates and Information Requested (Geraint Rees)a) Minutes of the ERW Joint Committee/s on 8 Feb 19, 3 April 19b) Next Joint Committee on 15 July 2019 c) Joint Committee future work programmed) The New ERW Business Plan e) Progress with improvement programme (standing itemf) Progress with the Four Enabling Objectives (standing item)
12.30pm Lunch and networking
1.00pm 7 Education Improvement across the Region: How is ERW ensuring consistency and standardisation of support for schools (Geraint Rees)
1.45pm 8 Discuss points for the letter to Chair of ERW Joint Committee arising from this meeting and agree items for next ERW Councillor Group meeting.
2.00pm Close
To: Cllr. Ellen ap Gwynn Chair of the ERW Joint Committee
Please ask for:
Scrutiny
Scrutiny Office Line:
01792 637256
Date
18 April 2019
Dear Councillor ap Gwynn ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group – 25 March 2019 The Scrutiny Councillor Group would like to thank Geraint Rees and Aneirin Thomas for attending our meeting and for presenting the information we requested and answering our questions. I am writing to you to reflect the views from that meeting. We were disappointed not to have received a written response to our letter to you dated 28 January 2019. We had highlighted a number of recommendations and concerns that we would like you to address. We would be grateful for an early response. After discussing the issues around the ERW reform programme with you in January, we felt more reassured that progress was being made and in a timelier manner. Unfortunately we heard today that the ERW Joint Committee met on February but only partially agreed the way forward. We understand that there are a number of sticking points around the budget and financial aspects of the new way forward that not all Councils were ready to sign up to. We understand that one Council is considering giving one year’s notice to leave ERW. We heard that their leaving will be contingent on whether they feel the reform programme has moved forward effectively and if they believe it has, they may then rescind that notice to leave. However, this in itself causes problems and we had concerns about the impact this would have on the overall budget of ERW. We also recognise this uncertainty may cause a number of challenges. We heard that the uncertainty in the ongoing delay to the reform programme has been difficult for staff working for ERW. We do recognise this and wish to express our appreciation for their commitment to ERW and education improvement through this difficult time. Geraint outlined the position and progress made with the programme of reform, which included the developing of phases/milestones for schools including a package of learning and moving forward with the appointment of permanent primary and secondary leads and other key staff at ERW. We were also pleased to hear about the developing work with the university around research and teacher training and note that professional learning will
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Agenda Item 4
ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group Scrutiny Support provided by Swansea Council Contact: Scrutiny Team, Gloucester Room, Guildhall, Swansea SA1 4PE 01792 637256 [email protected]
now be seen as a career long process. We were pleased to hear that key staff appointments will be made towards the end of May. We received a presentation on the categorisation of schools across the region. We had previously discussed concerns the group had about the time that some schools are spending in the red category and the churn of these out and in of that category. We looked at what is being done to intervene in this process and assist those schools to improve, especially how we progress when a school is consistently underperforming. The link between Estyn outcomes and our assessment and categorisation was raised, particularly when the assessment of the Education Improvement Service and the Estyn Inspection outcome are vastly different. As a part of this discussion the issue of consistency, robustness and standardisation of the support system across the region was considered and we felt that we wanted more information on this and how it is being improved. We will invite the Lead Director and Geraint to provide further information to our next meeting in June. We also discussed how we would like the ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group to progress in the future and are currently updating our Terms of Reference to reflect what we believe is our role moving forward. We have agreed to meet four times a year, with three of these meetings preceding the ERW Joint Committee and one being a wider information sharing good practice session. We will write to you following each meeting and would request that you respond to us in writing within 28 days of receipt of that letter. We will share our updated terms of reference and agreed ways of working once agreed in due course. We welcome your thoughts on any of the issues raised in our letter and would be grateful if you could respond in writing addressing the following issues by 9 May 2019.
1) We have concerns about the impact of the financial deficit if one Council leaves ERW on the overall budget. Can you update us on how this will be addressed moving forward?
2) We would like to ensure that the scrutiny and the ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group are clearly reflected in the Governance procedures of ERW, including the two way communication process and that expectations are agreed. I would be grateful if you would consider our request and let us know how you might address this?
Yours sincerely, Cllr Lyndon Jones Chair ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group [email protected]
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ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group Notes – 25 January 2019
In attendance: Cllr Lyndon Jones, Swansea (Chair) Cllr Alex Thomas, Neath Port Talbot Cllr Darren Price, Carmarthenshire Cllr Edward Thomas, Carmarthenshire Cllr David Jones, Powys Cllr Susan McNicholas, Powys Cllr Endaf Edwards, Ceredigion Cllr Wyn Thomas, Ceredigion Cllr Paul Rapi, Pembrokeshire Elizabeth Patterson (Scrutiny Officer, Powys) Michelle Roberts (Scrutiny Officer, Swansea) Siriol Teifi (Scrutiny Officer, Ceredigion) Charlotte Davies (Scrutiny Officer, Neath Port Talbot) Llinos Jenkins (Scrutiny Officer, Carmarthenshire) Invited to attend: Geraint Rees, Interim Managing Director ERW Aneirin Thomas, Head of Support and Performance ERW Apologies: Cllr Mathew Crowley (NPT), Mary Jones (Swansea), Mo Sykes (Swansea), Cllr John Davies (Pembrokeshire), Odwyn Davies (Ceredigion)
Item
1. Declarations of Interest None
2. Notes of, Letter to and response from the Chair of the ERW Joint Committee arising from the ERW Councillor Group on 10 January 2019. Letter and notes accepted. The Councillor Group were disappointed not to have received a response to this letter from the Chair of the ERW Joint Committee.
3. Reviewing Terms of Reference and discussion about future meeting The Group discussed how we would like the ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group to progress in the future and ensuring their work and Terms of Reference to reflect what they believe is our role moving forward. A number of issues were discussed including: 1. Do you wish to have say 2 annual meetings 10.30am till 3.00pm sessions
or would you prefer something else like today’s 2 hour sessions more frequently? Councillor Scrutiny group agreed to meet 4 times a year. Three of which will precede ERW Joint Committee meetings and one will be a wider information and sharing good practice session.
2. What time of year is best for meetings (currently Sep and Mar)? Within
the month preceding the ERW Joint Committee where possible.
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3. Do you want to revolve the Chair or would you like to elect one annually/periodically? The group wished to continue to rotate the chair with the hosting Council taking the Chair.
4. What issues do you want to look at? Should we start to put together a
work programme and what should that include? a. Item linking to each of the up and coming Joint Committee meetings
– key items for discussion at that JC. Link to ERW Joint Committee Work Programme once available.
b. Annual education outcomes (verified data and categorisation) c. Update on improvement programme – standing item d. Update on progress with National Mission and curriculum reform in
region – standing item e. Minutes of ERW Joint Committees f. Annual budget breakdown g. Individual Scrutiny Council work programme updates and sharing of
practice h. Others issues the Councillor Group wish to look at that falls within
the ERW remit. 5. Who do you want to attend your meetings?
Managing Director of ERW and appropriate officers each meeting ERW Joint Committee Chair and Lead Director at least annually Other people the Group feel would benefit their work
The ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group Terms of Reference to be updated to reflect this discussion and presented to the next meeting on 3 June 2019.
4. Updates and Information Requested at last meeting The Scrutiny Councillor Group thanked Geraint Rees for attending the meeting and giving the information we requested and answering our questions.
Councillor Group heard that the ERW Joint Committee met and only partially agreed the reform programme on 8 February. Hearing that there are a number of sticking points around the budget and financial aspects of the new way forward that not all Councils were ready to sign up to.
The Councillor Group understand the one Council is considering giving one year’s notice to leave ERW. Hearing that their leaving will be contingent on whether they feel the reform programme has moved forward effectively and if they believe it has, they may rescinded that notice to leave.
Councillors did have concerns about the impact of this deficit will have on the overall budget of ERW, recognising that this will need to be mapped out to help understand those effects.
The uncertainty and challenges that this has and continues to cause was highlighted.
Geraint outlined the progress and position in relation to the programme of reform this included:
― Financial aspects including the financial contribution for each LA, grants delivery, total income and total expenditure for 2018-19
― Moving toward the new curriculum and where we are, including the ending of the pioneer programme and the establishment of Leader of Learning.
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― the developing of phases/milestones for schools including a package of learning
― the moving forward with the appointment of permanent primary and secondary heads and other key staff at ERW.
― The developing work with the university around research and teacher training.
The group were pleased to hear that key staff appointments will be made towards the end of May. We welcome the reform as outlined.
The Group heard about that the uncertainty has been difficult for those staff working for ERW. They recognise this and wish to express our appreciation for their commitment to ERW and education improvement through this difficult time.
The Group also heard about the secondment to the region from Estyn to help deliver a regional approach. ERW key to establish closer links with this post.
The following issues will be followed up by the Scrutiny Group in a letter to the Chair of the Joint Committee 1) We have concerns about the impact of the financial deficit if one Council leaves ERW on the overall budget. Can you update us on how this will be addressed moving forward? 2) We would like to ensure that the scrutiny and the ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group are clearly reflected in the Governance procedures of ERW, including the two way communication process and expectations agreed. Can you please consider our request and let us know how you might address it?
The Councillor Group will also request further information from the Acting Managing Director for the next meeting about the consistency and standardisation of support given to schools across the region.
5. School categorisation and supporting data The Group received a presentation on the Categorisation of schools across the region from Aneirin Thomas, ERW’s Head of Support and Performance. He outlined the following issues:
Context and key messages
Number of schools categorised
ERW profile, primary and secondary
Breakdown of schools in different LAs by categorisation colour
Detailed categorisation and school performance for 2017-2018
Highlighted areas for improvement. The Group had previously discussed concerns about the time that some schools are spending in the red category and the churn of these out and in of that category. The meeting looked at what is being done to intervene and assist these schools to improve and how we progress when a school is consistently underperforming. The link between Estyn outcomes and our assessment and categorisation was raised, particularly when the assessment of the Education Improvement Service and the Estyn Inspection outcome are vastly different. As a part of this discussion the issue of consistency, robustness and standardisation of the support system was considered and we felt that we wanted more information on this and how it is being improved. We will invite
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the Lead Director and Geraint to provide further information to our next meeting in June.
6. ‘On the Money’ – Targeted funding to improve educational outcomes This item was postponed to a future meeting.
7. Work Programme Updates Chairs from each Local Authority updated the group on their current work programmes.
8. Next Steps a) A letter will be written to the Chair of the ERW Joint Committee outlining
the Scrutiny Councillor Group’s views and recommendations. b) The ERW Scrutiny Terms of Reference to be updated based on the
discussion had at the meeting (as outlined in item 3) and presented to the next meeting for agreement.
9. Next meeting The next meeting of the ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group will take place on the 3 June 2019 (10.30am to 2.00pm) and will be hosted by Pembrokeshire Council.
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ERW Scrutiny Councillors Group
Terms of Reference Aims The purpose of the group is to
help ensure the best educational outcomes for children in the ERW region by supporting effective scrutiny
To provide critical and objective challenge to ERW
To support consistent scrutiny across the six councils
To share scrutiny good practice
To encourage shared scrutiny approaches and avoid the duplication of scrutiny work
To contribute to the good and effective governance of ERW
To have oversight of the governance arrangements of ERW Assumptions
The role of the ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group is to provide critical and objective challenge to the ERW Joint Committee.
Local scrutiny of ERW takes place through the scrutiny arrangements of individual councils
Joint scrutiny of ERW (including pre-Joint Committee scrutiny) to take place at the Scrutiny Councillors Group
In each council the cabinet member(s) responsible for ERW will be held to account by education scrutiny body in individual Councils
The group will share its work and publish key documents The group will continue to develop and refine its role and its work The group is an informal arrangement and not a formal joint committee
Membership
The group is for scrutiny members with an education improvement role Up to two scrutiny members from each council including for example the
education scrutiny chair / convener Membership is flexible and replacement scrutiny members will be allowed Scrutiny support officers and appropriate observers should attend Managing Director of ERW should attend in a support capacity
Meetings
Four meeting to be held a year, three to co-inside with the ERW Joint Committee dates and one will be for wider issues including sharing work plans, scrutiny outcomes and good practice.
Councils to take it in turns to host the meetings (see list below) Meetings will be chaired by a scrutiny councillor from the host council Each meeting will give scrutiny councillors an opportunity to discuss topics of
interest with representatives of ERW or others they feel appropriate Discussion topics to be agreed in consultation with ERW
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Agenda Item 5
ERW meetings, agendas and letters will be in the public domain Each meeting will provide a report back to ERW via a letter from the chair The letter from the Chair ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group will be directed to
and responded to by the Chair of the Joint Committee. The response from the Chair of the Joint Committee should be received by the Councillor Group within 28 days of the letter being received.
The letter from the Group and response from the Chair of the Joint Committee will be put on the agenda of a Joint Committee meeting.
Support
Lead scrutiny support to be provided by the City and County of Swansea Scrutiny Team and to include: Facilitation of the 4 yearly member meeting agendas (including standing item
for the co-ordination of work plans annually) Preparation of discussion points / questions before meetings Drafting of letters Collation of action points and discussions Arranging/ and recording the meetings of scrutiny officers as required Preparation and publication of key documents including agendas, work plans
and letters Support from each Council to include: Provide scrutiny work plan summary annually for own council including
outcomes and forward look Provide scrutiny good practice examples to share as appropriate Host and chair meetings as agreed scheduled (approximately once every
eighteen months) Contribution from ERW: The ERW Joint Committee Chair and the Lead Director attend the ERW
Scrutiny Councillor Group at least once a year. ERW Joint Committee Annual Work programme is shared with the ERW
Scrutiny Councillor Group Provision of support and information as required by the ERW Scrutiny
Councillor Group A simple lunch for each meeting ERW Councillor Group agendas and letters are published on the ERW public
website. Meeting Hosts Pembrokeshire – 3 Jun 19 Ceredigion – Sep/Oct 19 Powys – Jan/Feb 20 Carmarthenshire – Apr/May 20 Neath Port Talbot – next Swansea – next Pembrokeshire – Ceredigion – Powys – Carmarthenshire –
As at: 25 March 2019
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Reviewing Terms of Reference and Way Forward for ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group
As per discussion had on 25 March 2019 on the future of ERW Councillor
Group (Changes are now reflected in updated Terms of Reference attached) 1. Do you wish to have say 2 annual meetings 10.30am till 3.00pm sessions or
would you prefer something else like today’s 2 hour sessions more frequently?
Councillor Scrutiny group agreed to meet 4 times a year. Three of which will precede ERW Joint Committee meetings and one will be a wider information and sharing good practice session.
2. What time of year is best for meetings (currently Sep and Mar)?
Within the month preceding the ERW Joint Committee where possible.
3. Do you want to revolve the Chair or would you like to elect one
annually/periodically?
The group wished to continue to rotate the chair with the hosting Council taking the Chair.
4. What issues do you want to look at? Should we start to put together a work
programme and what should that include?
a. Item linking to each of the up and coming Joint Committee meetings – key items for discussion at that JC. Link to ERW Joint Committee Work Programme once available.
b. Annual education outcomes (verified data and categorisation) c. Update on improvement programme – standing item d. Update on progress with National Mission and curriculum reform in
region – standing item e. Minutes of ERW Joint Committees f. Annual budget breakdown g. Individual Scrutiny Council work programme updates and sharing of
practice h. Others issues the Councillor Group wish to look at that falls within
the ERW remit.
5. Who do you want to attend your meetings?
Yes Managing Director of ERW and appropriate officers ERW Joint Committee Chair and Lead Director at least annually Other people the Group feel would benefit their work
6. Do you wish to amend this based upon your discussion you have had on the
above issues? Terms of reference to be amended based on this discussion.
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ERW Scrutiny Councillor Group Scrutiny Work Programme 2019-2020
Date and venue Items Who invited
Meeting 1 3 June 2019 Pembrokeshire Hosting
1. Groups Updated Terms of Reference 2. Minutes of Joint Committees (Feb and April 2019) 3. ERW Joint Committee July - items 4. Update on ERW reform programme 5. Update on progress with the four enabling objectives 6. New ERW Business Plan 7. Education Improvement across the region: what is being done to
ensure consistency and standardised support for schools
ERW Managing Director
Meeting 2 Ceredigion Hosting Autumn Term 2019?
1. Minutes of Joint Committees (July) 2. ERW Joint Committee Oct (date to be confirmed) - items 3. Update on ERW reform programme 4. Update on progress with the four enabling objectives 5. Budget update – new school year 6. ?
ERW Managing Director
Meeting 3 Powys Hosting Winter 2020?
1. Minutes of Joint Committees (?) 2. ERW Joint Committee (date to be confirmed) – items 3. Annual meeting with Chair of JC and Lead Director 4. Update on ERW reform programme 5. Update on progress with the four enabling objectives 6. Annual Education Performance Data for the region including
categorisation
ERW Managing Director Lead Director Chair of the ERW Joint Committee
Meeting 4 Carmarthenshire Hosting Apr/May 2020?
1. Look at progress made against ERW Business Plan objectives 2. Sharing of Councils work programmes 3. Good practice sharing 4. Sharing and comparisons with other Welsh Education Consortia 5. Updates on key documents i.e.: new legislation, useful reports,
training and/or information required by Group
Managing Director
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ERW Scrutiny Councillor Membership List (2018/2019)
Local Authority Councillor/member representatives Member email addresses Scrutiny Officers and other support
Swansea Cllr Mo Sykes (Convener of Schools Performance Scrutiny Panel) Cllr Mary Jones (Chair of the Scrutiny Programme Committee) Reserve: Cllr Lyndon Jones
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Michelle Roberts [email protected] Brij Madahar [email protected]
Neath Port Talbot Cllr. Alex Thomas Cllr. Matthew Crowley Chair and Vice Chair of Education, Skills and Culture Scrutiny Committee
[email protected] [email protected]
Jason Davies [email protected] Charlotte Davies [email protected]
Ceredigion Cllr Wyn Thomas Cllr Endaf Edwards Chair and Vice Chair of Learning Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee
[email protected] [email protected]
Lisa Evans [email protected]
Powys Cllr David Jones (Lead Member Education Scrutiny Group Cllr Susan McNicholas (Member of Education Scrutiny Group)
[email protected] [email protected]
Elizabeth Patterson [email protected]
Pembrokeshire Cllr John Davies (Chair of Schools and Learning Committee) Cllr Paul Rapi (Vice Chair of Schools and Learning Committee)
[email protected] [email protected]
Lynne Richards [email protected]
Carmarthenshire Cllr Darren Price (Chair of Education and Children Scrutiny Committee) Cllr Edward Thomas (Vice Chair of Education and Children Scrutiny Committee)
[email protected] [email protected]
Llinos S Jenkins [email protected]
Other ERW [email protected] [email protected]
Osian Evans Geraint Rees
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Agenda Item
9