Issue - meetings

Present the report to members of the Joint Committe. 

a)    To accept and approve the content of the report along with the high-level regional priorities. 

b)    To acknowledge the commitment GwE officers have shown to educational organisations across the north during the pandemic.

a)    To accept and approve the content of the report along with the high-level regional priorities. 

b)    To acknowledge the commitment GwE officers have shown to educational organisations across the north during the pandemic.

DISCUSSION:

GwE Assistant Director presented the report and an overview was given of how schools and PRUs in north Wales have responded to COVID-19.

It was noted that GwE staff have been supporting schools to evaluate the quality and impact of their provision during lockdown as part of their work programme.

The report is an overview of the discussions with schools, along with the areas that require further development and support.

It was added that schools have learned a lot from the first lockdown, and that provision in the second lockdown has built on this. 

Members' attention was drawn to the regional priorities that have derived from the report and an overview was given.

Reference was made to the words of the Minister for Education on page 63 of the programme:

'all schools and post-16 providers will continue to be required to undertake effective self-evaluation to support continuous improvement. Our evaluation, improvement and accountability arrangements require consideration of a broad range of information, relevant to a school’s own context, when undertaking self-evaluation and identifying improvement priorities. This will involve schools, with support from local authorities and regional consortia, using the learner level information they have to reflect on and improve their existing arrangements.' 

It was noted that GwE will support schools to achieve this.

Comments arising from the discussion:

-          GwE officers were thanked for their work with Local Authorities and Heads of Education to promote collaboration.

-          The feedback in the report is excellent, and reference was made to all the support given on all levels.

-          Reference was made to the concerns of some members regarding the inconsistency and variance in school provision. There is reference to this in the report, and it was added that sharing good practice illustrates that this is being addressed.

-          One member added there is a need for good and timely communication so that Headteachers can respond to any challenges.

                     Response of GwE Managing Director to the comments:

-          The importance of schools knowing what the assessment model is, whether it be teacher assessment, centre or examination. 

-          The main message is that schools are aware of the mechanisms that are required to be in place to ensure that all learners are achieving their potential.