Agenda item

The Committee received the Provisional Examination and Teacher Assessment Results report which included Provisional School Attendance Data.  The Committee noted that the report included some unverified data in respect of 2017 and that the finalised and verified performance data report would be presented to members in early 2018.

The following questions/observations were raised on the report:-

·       Reference was made to the fact that the Foundation Phase Indicators have been below average for five years.  The Head of Education Services explained that these are Wales-wide statistics and it was important to ensure that any monitoring and assessing undertaken is consistent. He added that officers require schools to demonstrate how they have ensured progress for every pupil.  It is all about holding schools accountable;

·       Concern was expressed that with income falling and benefit cut backs, poverty is becoming a major problem which could seriously affect the figures.  The Head of Education Services acknowledged that there is a problem with poverty and disengagement, however, officers are working with the Welsh Government on this issue;

·       Reference was made to the link between progress in the Foundation Phase and absence as this obviously affects progress and officers were asked what is being done to target absence.  The Head of Education Services explained that officers work closely with the Welfare Service and schools on this issue.  Other agencies are also called in if needed in order to support the family as it is important to find out why a particular child does not want to be in school.  It is all about working with the family and making sure that children are happy;

·       Reference was made to the varying performance levels for eFSM learners from school to school.   The Head of Education Services explained that it is complicated because there are different problems in different areas.  He added that a workshop was being arranged for all schools in order to share best practice in this area;

·       Reference was made to the minimal improvement in science performance and officer were asked whether it was the intention to arrange training for schools in this regard.  The Principal Challenge Adviser informed the Committee that two years ago a pilot was undertaken in the Bro Dinefwr area around sharing expertise and equipment.  As a result the staff and pupils made a presentation to all Secondary School Heads and the project has now been rolled out across all the other clusters for this academic year;

·       Concern was expressed over the number of children starting school with poor language and development skills which can be attributed to a dependency on technological gadgets.  The Interim Director of Education & Children’s Services agreed that there was evidence of this in some schools and interventions are made in such cases.  He added that a document has been launched this week which deals with that  exact issue;

·       Concern was expressed that the new GCSE format has had an impact on statistics Wales-wide and it should be noted that some of our schools have improved but the statistics do not show this

RESOLVED that the report be received.