Agenda and draft minutes

None

No declarations of interest were received.

The minutes and letter arising from the meeting on the 26 February 2024 were accepted.

Lead Director, Lead Officer and relevant Strategic Advisors

 

The Councillor Group agreed as part of their work programme to look at the performance of a different one of the four Partneriaeth priorities at each meeting.  The Councillor Group therefore welcomed Rob Phillips the Partneriaeth Strategic Adviser and Matthew Stonham from Ysgol Gynradd Tycroes to the meeting.  They outlined progress with regards to Priority Four: Provide career pathways for leaders, practitioners and support staff at all levels of the system.  They covered the following areas:

 

·       Teaching Assistant Learning Pathways (TAL)

·       Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs)

·       Middle Leaders Development Programme (MLDP)

·       Senior Leaders Development Programme (SLDP)

·       Aspiring Leaders Development Programme

 

The Councillor Group raised the following points:

·       They thanked Rob Phillips and Matthew Stonham for their inspiring update on this priority.

·       Is there a pathway for teaching assistants to become qualified teachers?  It was understood that they cannot do a PGCE without a degree.  How do we get those who aspire to become future teachers?

The Panel heard that the financial situation that local authorities, schools and everybody faces at the moment does not bode well for this at present. Higher level teaching assistant qualifications do count as an accreditation towards a degree but agree it would be good to harness more those who have a desire to become teachers.

·       The Group agreed it was an excellent programme and asked whether the training was in the school day or in addition to it and whether there is an issue with covering teachers when the wish to do it?

They were told that training is predominately within the school day. With regard to cover they heard that it can be bit of a mixture including for teaching assistance and how it can be a flashpoint sometimes. Even those who are on the aspiring head teachers programme can decide for themselves to come out to join the programme but the school has other ideas; things crop up in school and they are simply not able to make it.  The sessions are recorded so that it is available but it is not same as being there at the time/day.

·       Is there any evidence of people finding that they are not able to progress their career because they have not been able to get on these courses because there is no cover etc?

The Group were told that there has not been specific research which has been able to define any trends in that way. We do hear of isolated incidents where people have said, there was so much happening in my school that I could not do that programme at this particular time. And sometimes they come and join the programme later.

 

 

 

 

The Legal agreement states that Directors of Education of each of the Councils shall all attend together and that the Chair of Joint Committee shall attend, at least once per annum.  With purpose of seeking reassurance and to consider if the Partneriaeth is operating according to the Legal Agreement, its Business Plan and that its timetable is being managed effectively.  This will done as follows:

 

1.    Chair of the Partneriaeth Joint Committee to give a view on how he believes things are going and then to discuss and provide reassurance that Partneriaeth is operating according to the Legal Agreement, its Business Plan and that its timetable is being managed effectively.

2.    Director from each local authority to give views on how it is going for their Council, what they are finding the key challenges and to seek reassurance from each council that they believe Partneriaeth is operating according to the Legal Agreement, its Business Plan and that its timetable is being managed effectively.

The Legal agreement states that Directors of Education of each of the Councils shall all attend together and that the Chair of Joint Committee shall attend, at least once per annum.  With purpose of seeking reassurance and to consider if Partneriaeth is operating according to the Legal Agreement, its Business Plan and that its timetable is being managed effectively.  This was completed as follows

 

1.     Chair of the Partneriaeth Joint Committee gave his views on how he believes things are going.  The Councillor Group welcomed Glynog Davies. 

 

He then outlined his views as follows:

·       We need strong leadership across the region and we appreciate this programme and promotion of this work. I would encourage all those involved in one of these programmes.

·       It is important to realise that Partneriaeth is still relatively new and is on a journey. 

·       I am happy and confident that what is happening ties in with the Business Plan and the legal agreement and that it is strengthening the links between the three councils.

 

The Councillor Group asked:

·       Are we taking teachers with us on this journey to introduce the new curriculum?

­   ­Cllr Davies said it is a very interesting curriculum, but in the past teachers were given a plan to follow. It is so different now, but I am getting excellent reports.

­   ­Gareth Morgans (Pembrokeshire) I get regular feedback because of the close working relationships between my officers and Partneriaeth officers. This has developed over the past couple of years and the result of this is the provision is far more bespoke and far more relevant to individual schools.

­   ­Helen Morgan Rees (Lead Director).  It is also important to recognise that Partneriaeth is adapting to local requirement and needs.

­   ­Ian Altman (Lead Officer).  There has been a shift now from high level support to a more tailored approach to meet the needs of individual schools and it is also about the right type and level of support for teachers.

·       What is the main difference between how the Partneriaeth works now and the previous partnership?  The Group heard:

­   ­ It is a much more collaborative process.

­   ­The size of the organisation is now much smaller which makes it much easier to manage.

­   ­The organisation is listening to stakeholders and importantly giving a purposeful response.

­   ­ Adapts and changes to meet local need.

­   ­Informal and formal dialogue with Directors monthly.

­   ­Open, transparent and willing to respond.

­   ­Legal Agreement and Business Plan adhered to.

­   ­A real focus on pupils skill progression which has been valued by our teachers and leaders and having that expertise within Partneriaeth i.e. a focus on literacy, numeracy, science etc. has really given confidence across the system and that is really valued. Of course, underpinning good curriculum is good teaching and the teach for purpose programme has been really successful in getting back to basics and really making sure that good pedagogy is leading to good pupil progress. The programme has really helped practitioners to reflect on their practice and to really build on it.  The support for secondaries has further strengthened and has become even more tailored and bespoke.

 

2.  Individual Directors from each local authority were asked to give their views on how it is going for their Council, what they are finding the key challenges and to seek reassurance from each council that they believe Partneriaeth is operating according to the Legal Agreement, its Business Plan and that its timetable is being managed effectively.

 

Gareth Morgan Director of Education Carmarthenshire

·       There is a wide range of courses being delivered. The challenge is with some schools funding or having the ability to supply cover to release practitioners to attend.

·       A shared practice event had with another planned for coming year.

·       Discussions with directors had on a regular basis.

·       Partneriaeth can add value and help individual local authorities meet their objectives.

·       Research – good work in this area to support our learners, important to share that good practice.

·       Local provision is discussed; we are all working closely together.

·       I am positive about where the money is being spent and that it is transparent.

 

Helen Morgan Rees, Director of Education Swansea

·       I echo what Gareth has said and would outline some general improvement areas

­   Use of Partneriaeth brand not to be used unnecessarily by Human Resources

­   Less theory to enable teachers to do practical things in the classroom, which are of use and value to teachers.

­   Developing future high-quality leaders must continue as vital in supporting our schools in future.

­   School Improvement Officers in local authorities have also been key in being able to improve support for teaching and learning in our schools.

 

Lead Director and Lead Officer Partneriaeth

 

Ian Altman gave the Councillor Group an overview of the overall risk profile of the region relevant to delivery in Summer 2024. It will be updated given the new functions of Partneriaeth from September 2024. The heat map indicates the following risks as scoring Medium Probability and High Impact

·       Lack of clarity regarding functions of Partneriaeth

·       Partneriaeth found not to provide value for money

 

The Risk Profile based on the 2023/24 business plan. It will be rewritten at that point in line with our business delivery from that point, but it has been updated to reflect the recommendations from audit from last year and also the fact that all the Welsh Government funding been received for this financial year, including any expected variations. So that means that the financial risk regarding the timeliness of Welsh Government funding has been reduced.

 

It will look slightly different moving forward with funding being a local authority grant coming to us from our partner local authorities rather than a regional grant. So, the risk indicates that there is a medium probability and high impact of that lack of clarity regarding functions of Partneriaeth again.  It is therefore really important that we are clear on our core delivery particularly in the light of the restructuring, as well as having that alignment of messaging with our LA colleagues.

 

The Councillor Group mentioned:

·       the restructuring creates uncertainty for the staff delivering the training and therefore that is a risk because some of those staff could well leave for more secure employment.

The Lead Director said that they are mitigating this risk by being very open with staff about this change and the timetable.  All staff are now aware of where they will be in September.  The team will be reduced by 30% by that time.

Lead Director and Lead Officer Partneriaeth

The report provided by the Partneriaeth Lead Officer gives an update on the regional support and delivery for Curriculum for Wales during 2023-24 as well as the challenges facing schools with regard to progression and assessment. It outlined:

·       Curriculum Support

·       Progression and Assessment challenges

 

Scrutiny Councillor Group

The Cllr Group agreed to include their views on today’s agenda in a letter to Chair of Partneriaeth Joint Committee

Scrutiny Councillor Group

 

The Scrutiny Work Plan was noted.