Agenda item

Context:

To scrutinise the draft Education Achievement Service (EAS) Business Plan 2018-2021 and the Local Authority Annex 2018-2019

Key Issues:

·         The EAS is required to submit an annual overarching regional Business Plan with accompanying annexes for each of the five Local Authorities. This Business Plan (2018-2021) outlines the programme of work that is required to continue to accelerate outcomes for children and young people across all schools in South East Wales. The plan focuses on the urgent need to raise aspiration and accelerate improvement in pupil outcomes, improve the quality of teaching and leadership and build a self-improving system within and across schools and settings. The priorities for the Business Plan 2018-2019 have been derived from the progress that has been made towards the previous Business Plan and progress made across the region with the areas that have been identified as requiring improvements through self-evaluation processes and feedback from Estyn on the inspection of the EAS.

·         The delivery model for the Business Plan is on a regional basis, the needs of each school and trends within Monmouthshire are met through bespoke work with each school. The EAS offers a wide range of bespoke support that is based upon best practice.

Member Scrutiny:

·         In response to a question raised regarding support for schools in the red category, it was noted that good communication between the local Authority and the EAS is essential at all times and this is the case.  The EAS ensures that all partners are involved, keeping the head teacher and staff fully informed and engaged in the process.

·         Intervention meetings regarding schools in a red category ars owned by the local Authority.  Intervention meetings regarding schools in an amber category are owned by the EAS.

·         The power to issue statutory notices to schools lies with the local Authority.  Therefore, it is essential to have a strong working partnership between the local Authority and the EAS.

·         In response to a question regarding risk factors, it was noted that the risks factors identified in the report are common across the entire consortia.  However, the risk stating that there is a lack of clarity about respective roles and statutory responsibilities within the Local Authority and the EAS does not apply to Monmouthshire County Council.

·         In terms of federation, future success of Monmouthshire’s schools will be predicated on them having excellent leadership.  Currently, every school setting in Monmouthshire has a head teacher. In the future, there will be models that the Authority will invest in which will result in shared leadership positions across the schools.

·         The Education Improvement Grant (EIG) is a Welsh Government grant that is used by schools and local authorities to provide training. However, this funding has reduced over the previous years and could become a risk in terms of how much training could be provided if this trend continues.  Currently, the EAS is looking at other models related to the school improving system whereby, schools are now taking on some of the training to support other schools.

·         All training delivered via the EAS from 2018 will be free to all schools.  However, EIG funding has not been agreed for this financial year.

·         The progress status range of the EAS business plan is as follows – limited, satisfactory, strong, very good.

·         The current satisfactory progress is the judgement of the EAS as at October 2017. For the spring term of 2018, the EAS is anticipating to move to a higher level.  This reflects the business case for the five local authorities within the EAS.

·         With regard to the funding provided to the EAS, the Authority’s core funding is predicated on the size of the Authority.

·         The categorisation exercise determines the level of support that the EAS deploys to the schools.

·         More support is now available for governing bodies which is having a positive effect on the role governing bodies are able to provide to their respective schools. 

·         Monmouthshire’s engagement with governing body training is the best across the Greater Gwent region.

·         With regard to the performance of disadvantaged children in Monmouthshire’s schools in addition to FSM Children, it was noted that performance varies from school to school. There are improvements being made which stems from schools working in clusters.

·         All of the outcomes relating to the disadvantaged groups will be presented to the Select Committee in due course.