Issue - meetings

The information in the report was accepted and noted.

The report was submitted by Cllr Beca Brown.

DECISION

The information in the report was accepted and noted.

DISCUSSION

The county's students were congratulated on their examination results this year following a very challenging academic period during Covid. Gratitude was expressed to the youth service for its work, especially to Andrew Owen, Youth Support Worker, who had recently received an excellence award as an Exceptional Youth Worker.

Reference was made to a positive report recently received from ESTYN following an inspection. It was detailed that observations about the immersion system and the Welsh language were very promising. Nevertheless, it was noted that challenges remained with pupils' attendance as rates had been lower than desired since the pandemic. It was confirmed that the department had a number of programmes to meet this challenge. It was noted that no long-term plans had currently been announced by the Welsh Government but it was recognised that attendance was a priority for the authority, which was supported by marketing the importance of attending school every day and attempting to not go on holiday during the academic term.

It was reported that the department focused on matters relating to well-being, as well-being matters were a significant factor in reasons why pupils did not attend school. It was detailed that work was being undertaken to research the costs of taking children to school through questionnaires to see the full and hidden costs, of which the department were unaware, as this affected the well-being of families.

It was noted that work was being completed in the field of equality to ensure that everyone was happy to go to school and were respected for being themselves.

Attention was drawn to several other matters that had recently been achieved by the department such as the work of modernising education and the free school meals scheme.

The Education and Economy Scrutiny Committee that had been conducting the Gwynedd Category 3 Secondary Schools Scrutiny Investigation was thanked and it was noted that recommendations deriving from the investigation would be submitted to the Cabinet in due course.

Best wishes were extended to Garem Jackson who had recently resigned from his role as the Head of Education Department. He was thanked for his work and commitment to the department and he was wished all the best for the future.