Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Williams

To consider a report on the above.

To accept the report and ask the Education Department and Cabinet Member for Education to consider the observations of the committee, and that the scrutiny committee receives a further report on this when more details are available.

The Cabinet Member for Education and officers from the Education Department were welcomed to the meeting.

Submitted - the report of the Cabinet Member for Education inviting the scrutinisers to give observations on the proposed vision for the immersion education system towards 2032 and beyond.

The Cabinet Member set out the context, noting that the new vision was intended to build on the good work achieved by the language centres over the last few decades, acknowledge the hard work of the staff, and update and modernise the provision.

The Head of Education noted:

·         That he believed that this was an exciting vision, which laid the foundation for a celebrated service to do more good work, thus updating the service to be part of the 21st century schools programme.

·         That the Department and the staff of the language centres were anxious not to lose sight of the lessons learned as a result of re-purposing the service and reaching more children in a different way during the pandemic, and that there was a desire to build further on those strengths and approaches.

·         That members had already received a copy of Estyn's letter to the Chief Executive which highlighted the Authority's work in supporting schools and children during the pandemic period, and in particular commending the work of the language centres in re-purposing the service.

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and make observations.  During the discussion, the following observations were noted:

·         The success of the language centres over the years was recognised in ensuring that learners acquire the Welsh language.

·         There was agreement with the intention to strengthen accountability as part of the new vision.

·         The proposal to equip schools' workforce to support learners to make further progress in building confidence and acquiring the Welsh language was supported.

·         The proposal to establish an immersion education provision in Bangor was supported.

·         The Education Department was asked to provide more detail on the immersion education system when it becomes available.

·         Opinion was divided on the funding source for the immersion education system, with some members supportive of the intention that schools would contribute, thus increasing accountability and shared ownership of the system between the Education Department and the schools, but the wish was also expressed for the Council corporately to be funding the budgetary gap due to the fact that the Welsh language was one of the Council's main priorities.

In response to the observations and questions from members, it was noted: 

·         In terms of the schools' input and contribution to the revised vision and service, it was proposed to engage informally with schools' headteachers on the new vision.  Also, if the new system came into force, it was likely that a management board would be established for the new system which would include representation from the school system.  This meant that the schools could contribute and jointly own and shape the provision, to ensure that the system responds to the needs of the schools, while simultaneously keeping up to date with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7