Agenda item

The Committee considered a report and received a presentation regarding the provisional Examination and Teacher Assessment Results and provisional school attendance data for 2015.It noted that the verified data would be presented early in the New Year.

The following issues were raised during consideration of the report:

A question was asked about the potential impact of journey times on pupil performance. The Head of School Effectiveness advised that this could be looked at regionally by sampling 10 schools and a sample of pupils living at a distance compared with a sample of pupils living locally.

The Committee congratulated the officers on the improvements in performance and attendance. It was asked if enough publicity had been given to this. The Head of Education Services noted that press releases about the results at Glanymor School had been published on the day of the results. The Director advised that the verified data report to the Committee would provide a further opportunity to celebrate the results.

It was highlighted that consistent KS2 and KS3 teacher assessments were part of Estyn’s criteria for a successful school. The Head of School Effectiveness responded that Welsh Government (WG) had assumed that teachers were mature enough to make accurate assessments however there were no national guidelines and the guidance for the “best- fit” model had been interpreted differently. Aneirin Thomas (Challenge Advisor, Team Leader) was leading on the ERW regional review making recommendations to WG on how to improve the system and police it. One of the suggestions was to look at a pupil’s full portfolio and Estyn now asked to see pupils’ books. It was also intended to moderate Welsh and English language assessments next year to improve consistency. The Director added that the WG review of assessments in 2013 had concluded that they were worth nothing for the purpose of comparing performance. The results of the moderation pilot this year should be published in the coming months.

It was asked if the KS3 results could also presented by linguistic category of the schools. The Director agreed to include this in the verified data report planned for January 2016.

Clarification was requested in relation to the age range for the national literacy and numeracy tests and it was asked why the Welsh language results were below the Welsh average. The Head of Education Services advised that they were a global figure for years 2 to 9. He added that the Welsh literacy tests only assessed Welsh 1^st language at primary and secondary. Over 60% of pupils in Welsh Medium schools did not come from Welsh speaking households however the results would need to analysed and compared with other similar counties to see where improvements could be made.

It was noted that one of the priorities for this year is to improve the performance of e-fsm learners. The Head of School Effectiveness stated that this was a national as well as a local priority. There were positive examples locally of how the Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) had been used but also examples where there had been no improvements, despite the PDG. WG now wanted the outcomes from the PDG and, going forward, schools where less than 30% of e-fsm learners achieved Level 2 (5 GCSE A*C passes) would automatically be classed in the amber category 3. The ERW target this year was 30% and next year would be 32%. The Committee suggested forming a task and finish group to undertake detailed research into this area. The Director welcomed the idea, highlighting the added value the work by Members would bring.

It was noted that joint arrangements for the scrutiny of ERW were being developed, initially by informal discussions between scrutiny officers and the Managing Director of ERW. The Committee was asked if it was happy to nominate the Chair and Vice-Chair to represent it at any regional meetings, seminars or events to further develop the regional scrutiny arrangements.

UNANIMIOUSLY RESOLVED to:

8.1       Endorse the report

8.2       Establish a task and finish Group to undertake a review into the attainment gap for eligible for free school meals learners.

8.3       That the Chair be given delegated authority to accept nominations to serve on the politically balanced task and finish group from the leaders of the political groups (2 Independents, 2 Labour and 2 Plaid Cymru).

8.4       To extend an invitation to the co-opted members of the Committee to join the task and finish group.

8.5       That the Chair and Vice-Chair be nominated to represent the Education & Children Scrutiny Committee at all events held to develop joint scrutiny arrangements across the ERW region.