Issue - meetings

To scrutinise the draft Schools Strategy 2026-2036.

DECISION

1.     To welcome the strategy and accept the report noting the comments.

2.     That the Scrutiny Committee recommends to the Cabinet Member for Education that further information on safeguarding, poverty, social equity, faith schools, access to parents' voice, inclusion, the Welsh language, staff well-being and governance needs to be included in the Schools’ Strategy.

3.     That information about the Schools Support Service be distributed to members.

4.     Ask the Education Department to ensure that safeguarding is integrated into the department's planning.

5.     That the Cabinet is aware of the importance of staff well-being to attract and retain staff and does all that is possible to promote well-being and favourable conditions.

6.     Ask the Education Department to give full consideration to the Welsh Government's new recommendations regarding governance when these are received.

The Cabinet Member for Education presented the report, stating that the draft document before them covered the education department's vision on behalf of schools over the next few years. It was noted that the previous strategy was now dated and ended in 2025, and there was a need for it to be updated due to significant changes over the period. It was explained that the document tried to reflect the fact that the challenges facing the county had changed and had intensified, noting that the strategy referred to the impact of cuts, recruitment challenges and the far-reaching threat of demographic changes across the county.

During the discussion, the following observations were made: -

The member was thanked for the presentation. More details were requested regarding how the challenges of children who are vulnerable to poverty would be considered within the strategy, emphasising the importance that this cohort had a voice within the strategy. In response, it was noted: -

-        That an audit had been carried out to try and get cost-friendly schools.

-        That data has been collected on this issue and would be shared with schools within the month to enable them to respond and meet the challenges, and to escalate the issue to the top of the priority list.

-        That the department recognised that the experiences of children from disadvantaged backgrounds were far worse if they were not supported through the schools.

-        That there was room to put a specific heading in relation to children who are vulnerable to poverty, and to give attention to how the needs of children from disadvantaged backgrounds should be addressed, to what extent the current arrangements addressed this and how changing the arrangements would improve the situation.

-        Many grants were given to schools to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds, but under the current arrangements headteachers and governing bodies were required to use additional grant monies to support everyone, not necessarily targeting individuals, as the situation was generally difficult.

Pride was expressed that the issue of safeguarding was addressed within the strategy. A view was expressed that safeguarding should be higher within the strategy than heading four, given the importance of safeguarding. It was asked how the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice’  report had shaped the strategy. In response, it was agreed that safeguarding was an extremely important issue. It was noted that the list did not reflect any order of priority. It was acknowledged that there was room to change the order of the strategy to place safeguarding at the top of the list.

It was confirmed that this draft of the Schools Strategy had been produced prior to the publication of the 'Our Bravery Brought Justice' report. In relation to learning from the Children's Practice Review, emphasis was placed on the need for the authority and the safeguarding and well-being team to provide more support to schools. The challenge that existed for the department to support 94 schools of all sizes was further emphasised. It was noted that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5