Venue: Committee Room 5, Guildhall, Swansea. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services - 636923
No. | Item |
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Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests. Minutes: In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and
County of Swansea, no interests were declared. |
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To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record. Minutes: Resolved that the
minutes of the Education & Skills Policy Development & Delivery
Committee held on 11 October 2017 be approved as a
correct record. |
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Views from Pioneer Schools. PDF 4 MB Minutes: Nick Williams, provided an verbal update for the Committee in
support of the circulated paper from Welsh Government which outlined the
background proposals and purpose of the Pioneer Schools initiative which was launched
in June this year. He outlined that the following schools in Swansea are part of
the project – Gwyrosydd, Glyncollen, Llanrhidian, Parkland, Trallwn,
Waunarlwydd, YGG Brianiago, YGG Lonlas, Pen Y
Bryn Special School, Olchfa Comprehensive
School, Pontarddulais Comprehensive
School, Ysgol Crug Glas Special School He stated that a Scrutiny Panel would shortly be visiting
Olchfa as part of their review, and information gained could be shared with
Members of this Committee. He indicated that good working relationships are already
progressing between the comprehensive and feeder schools to better develop
transition arrangements for young people. He detailed some of the schemes being introduced such as
Digital Competency Framework (which will give equal weighting to IT skills as
numeracy & literacy development), entrepreneurship, blended curriculum etc. He indicated that the schemes being developed will need time
to be embedded in the school programme and feedback and good practice will be
shared with other schools in due course. The issues of not enough young people taking IT formally at
both GCSE and A level, the limited option choices for subjects, the need to
embed IT skills and usage into as many lessons as possible, the availability of
enough qualified IT staff and teachers, the need to better promote to young
people the outcomes and job/career opportunities from studying IT/Computers
were all discussed and outlined, as well as the need to also promote and
encourage the use of the alternative curriculum and soft/life skills such as
teamwork/communication etc for all pupils. The need to progress and support the issue of revised and
increased IT Teacher Training and upskilling with schools and university
providers was also referred to again. The possibility of developing a Digital Academy outside of the
school system possibly in conjunction with the Universities was raised and
discussed. |
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Children's Views of STEM Subjects. Presentation and Interactive Workshop Minutes: Beth Thomas, gave a detailed and
informative power point presentation which outlined the background and feedback
from the Big Conversation event held with young people on 29 September at
Gowerton Comprehensive. As part of the presentation, she outlined in detail the feedback
from the young people and referred to the following areas: ·
Context and rationale behind the Big
Conversation initiative; ·
Aims and objectives of the event; ·
Tasks and activities completed by young people
during the day; ·
Why do girls drop out of STEM subjects – only 9%
of GSCE computer science uptake are female; ·
Reasons why girls drop out, including pre school, during school & outside school factors,
such as gender stereotyping, family & cultural influences, unintentional
sexism including from teachers, peer/media/social pressures, sexual orientation
issues; ·
What can be done to improve the situation – more
support from teachers, need to change social attitudes to stereotyping and
sexual orientation, more girl and mixed based activities, make subjects more
inclusive; ·
Fit for Purpose Curriculum and what young people
think it could look like – more work experience options, more life skills,
greater access to digital technology, greater and earlier careers advice,
better option choices, more practical/non vocational courses needed; ·
The next steps – next Big Conversation meeting
on December 1. Members of the Committee discussed the issues raised by young
people during the presentation and highlighted that many of the issues raised
by Members previously such as more non vocational courses, better IT provision,
improved careers advice, improved teacher training, holistic/life skills had
also been raised by the young people. These areas need to be addressed
and tackled, in order to give young people the best opportunities to flourish. Members also suggested options to include a wider cross
section of young people at future events. Beth Thomas indicated that Members were welcome to attend
future events. |
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Draft Cabinet Report on City Deal Skills Development. PDF 262 KB Minutes: Chris Sivers presented a draft Cabinet report
which provided feedback on the progress to date in developing policy on
education & skills in order to meet the challenges being raised by the City
Deal. The item had been discussed at the
previous meeting of this committee, and this report has been compiled to progress
the matter. Members discussed the report and suggested minor amendments to
give the report a more local focus. Resolved that the
amended report proceed to Cabinet. |
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Workplan 2017/2018. PDF 101 KB Minutes: The Chair outlined the Workplan for the Committee for the
remainder of the Municipal Year 2017/2018. Members raised the issue of 14-19 provision and requested that
the presentation to the December meeting take into account that increased age
range and the current provision available. Resolved that the
Workplan as outlined be noted, subject to the
amendment above. |