Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

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None

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City & County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve & sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Approved

Resolved that the Minutes of the Education & Skills Service Transformation Committee held on 16 June 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.  

For Information

Kate Phillips provided a powerpoint presentation to the committee entitled “What do we do about ’behaviour’ in schools.

The presentation provided an update on the next steps agreed since the last meeting.  She outlined the elements that were currently being worked on which included partnership work, workshops and a questionnaire for schools. 

A workshop took place on 9 July 2024 at the Towers Hotel with around 60 representatives from a range of the various agencies in attendance.  The workshop considered the following:

·               Workshop ask and aims;

·               The 5 areas of discussion;

·               The issues faced by the various agencies / organisations;

·               What approaches were needed;

·               What the agencies could offer;

·               How they could work collectively;

·               Next steps

She went on to explain that not all agencies had been able to attend the workshop, therefore a second event had been scheduled for 17 September 2024.

Members discussed the powerpoint presentation and asked various questions around the issues and topics detailed within it.

The Cabinet Member and Officer responded accordingly.

The Chair thanked the officer for the detailed and informative presentation.

For Information

David Thomas provided the committee with a verbal update in relation to designing a Swansea set of principles to understand how to interpret pupil progression across our schools and settings within the Local Authority.

He stated that overall progression in learning was a process of developing knowledge, skills and understanding over time.

One of the requirements for each school and setting was that it had to publish, through its governing body, its arrangements for curriculum and assessment.  Ongoing assessment should be in place for every learner and assessment was about pupil progression. 

He outlined details of a programme embarked on 2 years ago by the Local Authority, facilitated by a renowned educational professional to develop a shared understanding of linear progression from 3-16.  As a result, curriculum maps that supported a better view of the skills, knowledge and understanding required in a particular context were now being used (cluster / feeder model).  However, the programme did not support an individual view of a school’s curriculum design of the principles of progression that sat underneath it.  Therefore, the School Improvement Team had developed the following episodes of evaluation:

1)    Overview;

2)    How to quality issue;

3)    Practical guides to support a better view of the School Improvement journey and self evaluation (deep dive);

4)    Supporting a better view of overall individual pupil progression (deeper dive).

The Officer went on to explain that funding via a grant to Local Authorities since April 24 had resulted in the employment of a lead officer for curriculum, learning and teaching.  The School Improvement Partnership had been given the job of being the recipient of bids or business models from schools and or cluster partnerships to develop some work together.

He outlined various options available to provide principles and practical guidance for schools and settings in order to progress this piece of work.

The Committee made various comments and asked questions, which the officer responded to accordingly.

For Information

The Chair outlined the workplan for the committee for the remainder of 2024/2025.

Various additional options to aid the work plan were raised, which would be discussed further with Officers and the Cabinet Member for Education & Learning.