Issue - meetings

Report by the GwE Managing Director and Gwynedd Council Head of Finance.

To accept the report.

DECISION

To accept the report.

Discussion

Presented - report by Managing Director and Head of Finance, updating members on the latest financial review of GwE's budget for the 2021/22 financial year. The report also focused on the significant financial variances, with Appendix 1 containing full financial information.

In response to a request for more information regarding the intention to use an additional £100,000 against the general school improvement grant heading, the Managing Director explained: -

·         The underspend in the last 2 years during the pandemic is a little over £250,000 and, ideally, we would wish to return to that situation as the money needs to be in schools.  

·         Schools are facing significant transformation challenges at present with the advent of the new curriculum, the ambitious target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050, the ALN Transformation Programme and the significant work to be undertaken with assessment, along with well-being and leadership considerations.

·         One of the challenges facing schools at present is a shortage of supply teachers.   However, this would mean investment in the longer term, so that schools have the financial resource to plan these main priorities within their school development plans. Therefore, as the pandemic subsides, more supply will become available so that schools can build more capacity into their planning structures to realise these changes.