Agenda item

[NOTE:  Councillor G. Jones had earlier declared an interest in this item.]

The Committee considered a report on the Revised Estyn Inspection Framework.  This inspection framework is used for all inspections of education and training providers in Wales and there is one framework for all schools and pupil referral units.  The revised framework provides schools with the opportunity to present their practice against the following inspection areas:-

- Standards

- Wellbeing and attitudes to learning

- Teaching and learning experiences

- Care, support and guidance

- Leadership and management

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Mr Aled Davies, the Headteacher of Llangunnor Primary School, who had been invited to make a presentation to the Committee.  

Mr Davies advised the Committee that his school had recently undergone an inspection and was the first school in the county to do so under the new framework.  Schools were aware that a new inspection framework was being introduced and officers from the Education Department have helped schools to prepare by providing training sessions and assistance with the preparation of documents and School Development Plans. 

Schools used to get 4 weeks’ notice of an impending inspection but under the new framework only 15 working days’ notice is given.  You get a call on Monday morning to inform you of the visit and you have to upload all the required documents onto Estyn’s website by the Friday of the same week.  Schools should have all the necessary documents ready anyway as they are all statutory documents.  Estyn need to know that a school knows what needs to be improved and where the school is going etc. and that is all contained in the School Development Plan.  The self-evaluation documents must be completed and supported by the robust evidence to prove what you are stating.  It is very important to have these documents ready and in place.

With regard to the inspection itself, it is far more centred on the pupils and the inspectors spend a lot of time talking to the children.  They collect evidence from these conversations with pupils.  They may not speak to the headteacher at all as they have seen the self-evaluation forms and know what the headteacher’s views and opinions are.  They place far more emphasis on speaking to pupils and staff and also to parents and governors.   The emphasis is now more centred on the individual and the progress that they make at the school, however, the inspectors still look at specific groups e.g. eFSM.   

Studies have indicated that the 65-70% of the jobs that these children will be doing have not yet been created, therefore, it is important to emphasise on the skills that children need and not a particular job. 

The wellbeing of the pupil is also very important and the attitude of the pupil towards learning.   Attendance is another important factor which is looked at as 90% attendance may sound good, however, if a child has attained a 90% attendance rate at school from the age of 4-16 that equates to the loss of one whole year of schooling. 

Previously, inspections would entail an inspector sitting in on a lesson for an hour and then giving an opinion on the teaching method.  Under the new system one Inspector looks at discipline, another at use of the Welsh language during the day etc.  Then all the Inspectors meet at the end of the day to discuss their findings.  The headteacher is welcome to sit in and listen to the discussion.

The Inspectors look at tracking, monitoring, provision of support and personal development including whether staff are given training opportunities.  They also look at leadership and management and even looked at the minutes of staff meetings.  The main difference in this respect under the new regime is that previously this would involve a small group including the Headteacher and a couple of others, however, now all governors and teachers are involved. 

The following questions were raised on the report and presentation:-

·       Asked if there is any follow up to the self-evaluation the Committee was informed that it becomes part of the School Development Plan which will indicate what needs to be done over the next 2-3 years and it is monitored regularly;

·       Asked if ERW supported the school through the inspection process the Committee was informed that the school’s link Challenge Adviser worked closely with the school throughout this process;

·       Asked whether all schools in the county are “inspection ready” and what the Authority was doing to help them in this respect, the Head of Education Services informed the Committee that the LA/ERW provides a range of support for schools and that schools are in the process of revising their current self-evaluation documentation in line with the revised Estyn Framework.  This crucial work then evolves into the individual School Development Plan.  Officers are conscious of not overloading schools with too many action points/recommendations and need to make sure that governors have a hands on approach.  He added that schools in the county are as ready as any schools in other Authorities.  He stressed the need to emphasise progress as opposed to simply focusing on ‘headline data statistics’ and the need to track/focus on the child through the Key Stages.  Mr Davies added that it does put pressure on staff and the most important thing for a headteacher is to ensure that the teachers are fit and active and that they inspire the pupils.  He stressed that when preparing for the new inspection framework it is essential to consider whether we are putting too much pressure on our teachers. 

The Chair thanked Mr Davies for attending the meeting and for an interesting and informative presentation.

RESOLVED that the report and presentation be received.