Issue - meetings

To present the GwE Business Plan 2023/24 - Quarter 1 and 2 Monitoring Report for approval.

To accept and approve the report.

The GwE Managing Director presented the report, noting it is appropriate that the business plan follows the budget reports as the careful planning that takes place when producing the business plan is integrated into the budgetary requirements. The focus in this meeting was on 'Objective 1 - School Improvement', and it was explained there has been a culture change in GwE over the last 5/6 years. He noted this is now coming to fruition, and that the service has a close relationship with school staff in order to be able to identify priorities.

He went on to explain that the inspection cycle for the six authorities has come to an end, and that the school improvement aspect has come out strong. It was explained there are no recommendations on how the school improvement service may be improved. As a result, this positive nature needs to continue it was noted, and that information arising from the findings of the Task and Finish Group needs to inform the next step.

Recognition was given to the fact there has been pressure in recent times on regulatory duties but that reports are consistently positive. This means there is external assurance that GwE is proceeding in the right direction and that the collaboration is unhindered. This is key to the success of the service it was emphasised.

During the subsequent discussion, members made the following comments:

-        Thanks were given for the report and there was praise for the support and all the work undertaken by the service.

-        There was a request for all the feedback received across the region to be shared with the Joint Committee, as it is important to see how schools are feeling across the region in order to be able to compare with schools within individual authorities.

-        There was concern about the review of salary grades, even though there was no reference to this in neither the report nor the Business Plan. In response, it was explained that GwE as a service is looking for consistency and fairness and that it is likely there must be a restructure in order to ensure there is an appropriate structure in place in moving forward. It was noted that this is a discussion to be raised with the Task and Finish Group, which would be looking at the financial situation in its entirety.

DECISION

To accept and approve the report.