Agenda item

The Committee considered a National Categorisation Summary Report for Carmarthenshire Schools in 2016. The information outlined within the report highlighted the current position of the County’s schools as well as areas for improvement. Overall, the Committee noted that the proportion of schools placed in a Green or Yellow category across Carmarthenshire, was 8% higher as compared to 2014/15, with well over three quarters (77%) of schools now in a Green or Yellow category. The proportion of Green schools in Carmarthenshire had increased by 2% as compared to 2014/15 with 26 (23%) of schools categorised as Amber but no schools categorised as Red. The Committee was informed that the greatest improvement in 2015/16 had been the number of schools moving from the Amber to the Yellow category.

The following issues were raised during consideration of the report:

In response to a question on schools’ own self-evaluation, the Chief Education Officer acknowledged that schools were improving in this regard and following a new directive from the Welsh Assembly, a seminar had been held with head teachers to share and discuss best-practice. Officers were pleased to see more consistency across schools and head teachers communicating with each other on this issue. The Head of School Effectiveness also informed the Committee that a seminar for school governors was planned for the 15th March 2016 with specific focus on creating and implementing an effective self-assessment.

Concern was expressed that governors in general were not aware of the categorisation process and how it worked. It was asked whether a specific governor should have responsibility for the school’s categorisation and that all governors should get to discuss this on a regular basis. The Head of School Effectiveness acknowledged the comments and informed the Committee that a great deal of work was being done as the national agenda required more training for governors. He added that every term, head teachers should be presenting governors with the categorisation information and the different steps undertaken to assign schools to different categories, as well as being made aware of the visits by ERW officers each term. He suggested that categorisation should be a regular item on governor meeting agendas.

Reference was made to the use of experienced head teachers as ‘challenge advisors’ and it was asked whether this process was sustainable in such difficult financial conditions, especially as this method placed additional burdens on the ‘sending school’ and on the head teacher’s work load. The Head of School Effectiveness reassured the Committee that the Authority and ERW would still require a ‘core-team’ and that it was about getting a balance. The use of experienced head teachers ensured the sharing of good practice, not only benefiting the school being visited but also for the challenge advisor too. He informed the Committee that the Authority was in the process of revising the school effectiveness service and that it was hoped that it would use less head teachers in the future. He reassured the Committee that the governing body of any ‘sending school’ was fully informed of their head teacher’s activities and that if any problems were brought to officers’ attention, these were acted upon immediately. The Chief Education Officer noted that this arrangement also provided deputy head teachers with the opportunity to develop their skills whilst the head teacher was away.

Individual members of the Committee acknowledged the support provided by the School Improvement Service and ERW in their respective schools. It was felt that the support had been excellent, unobtrusive and helpful to all those concerned, both for staff and governors alike. 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the report be received.