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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 5, Guildhall, Swansea. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services - 636824 

Items
No. Item

14.

Disclosures of Personal and Prejudicial Interests.

Minutes:

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

 

15.

Minutes. pdf icon PDF 241 KB

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 Committees held on 10 July 2019 be agreed as a correct record.

 

16.

Discussions with Representatives of ERW.

Minutes:

Andi Morgan and Yan James from ERW gave a powerpoint presentation outlining the following areas:

 

·       Where the organisation is currently placed in relation to the proposals and timescales for the implementation of the new curriculum, in particular the revised content which is due to be published in January 2020;

 

·       Current staffing structure and events planned across the regions for teachers and schools;

 

·       4 main areas of school innovation projects – Quality Improvement Schools, Innovation Schools, Lead Enquiry Schools & National Network Schools;

 

·       Main Role of Quality Improvement Schools - refine the curriculum in light of feedback, refine the Literacy and Numeracy Framework and Digital Competence Framework in light of feedback, develop the assessment framework and support the work of Qualification Wales;

 

·       Swansea Quality Improvement Schools - Expressive Arts  Llanrhidian & Parkland, Science & Technology Gowerton Comp, Maths & Numeracy Ysgol Pen y Bryn, Humanities YGG Bryntawe & YG Bryniago, Languages Literacy and Communication Crug Glas & Trallwn, Health and Well-being Glyncollen, Olchfa Comp & St Thomas;

 

·       Role of Innovation Schools – To provide direct feedback to the quality improvement groups through school based planning of the curriculum and to identify mechanical, logistical and structural models to enact the curriculum through school planning;

 

·       Swansea Innovation Schools – Parkland and Olchfa Comp;

 

·       Role of Lead Enquiry Schools - these schools were known as Professional Learning Pioneer Schools. These schools will continue to work in regional groups developing cycles of enquiry, supported by UWTSD;

 

·       Swansea Lead Enquiry Schools – Humanities  Cefn Hengoed Comp, Expressive Arts  Christchurch, LLC Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, Health & Well- being Pontarddulais;

 

·       Role of National Network Schools – these schools will send a representative to national network meetings within each Areas of Learning and Experience  and work with QI schools to ensure curriculum and professional learning work together closely for the next phase of the work.

 

·       Swansea National Network Schools – Humanities Cefn Hengoed Comp, LLC Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr, Health & Well-being Pontarddulais;

 

·       Other Schools – ERW will ensure that all schools in the region will be kept informed of the work being done. This information will be shared in a variety of ways by ERW staff, including electronic communication, regional engagement events, attendance at headteacher meetings & challenge adviser events;

 

·       ERW Curriculum Team and 12 Areas of Learning Lead Officers outlined, ERW structure and diagram outlining the links between the various and wide ranging bodies involved, and areas for improvement which are all underpinned by the four main purposes of the new curriculum;

 

·       ERW support for schools to develop More Able & Talented (MAT) pupils to progress within the new curriculum – Morriston & Penyrheol Comps peer review project, Bishop Gore Comp & Llangyfelach have received funding and support to develop MAT lead pedagogy schools, Bishopston & Birchgrove Comps are Swansea MAT leads and are working collaboratively with other schools in the region to develop a professional learning offer to all schools within ERW regarding the identification, teaching and learning approaches and effective leadership of MAT learners. They will be providing workshops for schools across the region sharing their strengths and expertise.

 

·       Clarity – Leading Collaborative Learning Project – Bishop Vaughan & Gowerton Comps are working on a school improvement project with Ontario based educationalist Dr Lyn Sharratt, The research described in ‘Clarity: What Matters Most in Learning, Teaching and Leading’ by Dr. Lyn Sharratt is a school improvement cross regional project backed by Welsh Government with Swansea University capturing the journey and evaluating the impact of the work. Dr Sharratt’s ethos for school improvement is based around 14 parameters as a learning framework;

 

·       ERW Schools as Learning Organisation & Curriculum for Wales events - during the summer term 2019, ERW delivered Curriculum for Wales engagement events across the region, during the autumn and spring terms 2019-2020 ERW will be providing further training for school leaders on Schools as Learning Organisations and the Curriculum for Wales, it is important that every school leader in the region attends both the autumn and spring training so that key information can be disseminated and ERW can ensure that schools keep abreast of the rapidly changing landscape of education in Wales.

 

·       Newly Qualified Teacher sessions and AoLE development will be running training on the new curriculum for these in November.

 

Members asked various questions of the ERW representatives and Council officers, particularly around the following issues and topics: Co-ordination of approach across the Authority, ensuring all schools are fully involved and information is disseminated, appropriate support for Teachers, sharing of good practice between schools, building capacity in schools to deliver the new curriculum, whole school approach and staff engaged in change, skills gap particularly around vocational/construction courses and qualifications, links with employers and higher education and possible revisiting of Swansea Skills Partnership remit, need to ensure arrangements are in place to support less achieving pupils, NEETS and LAC pupils achievement, problems with funding being made available for certain schools.

 

The ERW representatives and Council officers responded accordingly to the questions and issues raised above and outlined the measures and initiatives in place to address the areas outlined.

 

The Chair thanks the ERW representatives for their attendance and input.

 

 

 

 

 

17.

Workplan 2019/2020. pdf icon PDF 199 KB

Minutes:

Following on from the discussion and information submitted at the previous meeting with schools and above with the representatives of ERW, Members discussed options for the forthcoming meetings.

 

The following were outlined as items to be discussed at the upcoming meetings in October, November & December – evidence from primary schools (particularly those involved in the new curriculum projects), information/evidence from the education officer working party on the new curriculum, update from Swansea Skills Partnership, further information on vocational opportunities for young people.

 

Officers to schedule as appropriate following discussion with the schools and relevant officers.

 

Resolved that the workplan be updated accordingly when the arrangements for the next 3 meetings have been confirmed.