Venue: Virtual Meeting - Zoom
Contact: Eirian Roberts 01286 679018
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APOLOGIES To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies were received from Rosalind
Williams (Church in Wales), Haf Williams (Primary Schools' Representative),
Claire Armitsted (Secondary Schools' Representative), Karen Evans (Denbighshire
Council), and Ian Roberts (Wrexham County Borough Council). |
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DECLARATION OF PERSONAL INTEREST To receive any declaration of personal interest. Minutes: No
declaration of personal interest was received by any member present. |
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URGENT ITEMS To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chairman for consideration. Minutes: There were no
urgent matters. |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - 20 MAY, 2020 PDF 204 KB (attached) Minutes: It was confirmed that the record presented
appropriately reflected the meeting on 20 May 2020. Matter arising from the minutes: Item 7 - Qualifications GwE's Managing Director
noted that there had been no solution to the concerns as regards what will
happen in August around the results, nor how 2021 will look for learners, and
that everybody at every level is trying to get an answer from Qualifications
Wales. The Chairperson reiterated this comment, and
specific reference was made to concerns in relation to this year's examination
system, as regards where the responsibility lies for results. It was noted that a meeting would soon be
held with Qualifications Wales, the Minister and Cabinet Members to discuss the
matter. |
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THE JOINT COMMITTEE'S FINAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2020 PDF 211 KB To consider the
report of the Head of Finance, Gwynedd Council
(attached) Additional documents: Decision: To receive and note GwE's Statement of Accounts (subject to audit) for 2019/20. Minutes: DECISION To accept and note GwE's
Statement of Accounts (subject to audit) for 2019/20. Discussion Presented - report
from the Head of Finance, Gwynedd Council, asking the Joint Committee to accept
and note GwE's Statement of Accounts for 20019/20
(subject to audit) endorsed by the Statutory Finance Officer for the Joint
Committee. It was noted: ·
That the final net underspend for 2019/20 stands at
£189,618 and that the 'out-turn' report presented to the Joint Committee on 20
May 2020 elaborates on the reasons for the net underspend and the intended use
of the balance. ·
That the Statement of Accounts was already the subject
of an audit by Deloitte, Gwynedd Council external auditors, appointed by
Auditor General Wales. In light of the
pandemic, Local Welsh Government audits would not be completed finally until
September of this year. The Auditors
would produce an 'ISA 260' report, detailing the main findings by Deloitte, to
be presented to this Joint Committee at the next meeting on 15 September 2020. The additional
revenue following underspend in 2019/20 was welcomed. |
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ANNUAL GOVERNANCE STATEMENT FOR THE GWE JOINT-COMMITTEE PDF 242 KB To consider the
report of the GwE Managing Director
(attached) Additional documents: Decision: To accept and approve the Annual Governance
Statement. Minutes: DECISION To accept and approve the Annual Governance
Statement. Discussion Presented - GwE
Managing Director's report asking the Joint Committee to accept and approve the
Annual Governance Statement. GwE's Managing Director
noted that this report tied in with the last part of the Annual Report (item 7
below), and with items 8, 9 and 10. In
light of this, it was suggested to move forwards to item 7 and make a decision
on items 6 and 7 together at the end. He further noted
that there is a need to look at the net underspend for 2019/20, and draw
everything together in order to re-focus on how the service will look as we
move forwards. |
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GWE ANNUAL REPORT 2019/20 PDF 358 KB To consider the
report of the GwE Managing Director
(attached) Additional documents: Decision: To accept and approve the report. Minutes: DECISION To approve and accept the report. Discussion Presented - GwE
Managing Director's report asking the Joint Committee to accept and approve GwE's Annual Report for the financial year 2019/20. GwE's Managing Director
noted that the last part of the Annual Report referred to the priorities of the
Business Plan for 2020/21, however in light of COVID-19 that these priorities
needed to be reviewed. The horizon was clear back in March, however this was
not the case now, and a discussion needed to take place to see what the focus
of the service will be in moving forwards. Evidently, technology was a matter
that should be addressed. The Joint
Committee accepted and approved the Governance Statement (item 6 above) and the
Annual Report, noting that the discussion paper would be presented at the next
meeting on 15 September 2020, in terms of the next priorities that need to be
agreed. The Managing Director further
noted that the service has had to change direction 5 times in one term, and
that lessons need to be learned from the lockdown and a new vision set for the
service as we progress in the short term and over the coming years. He also
referred to the collaboration with the authorities, noting that there are local
solutions in terms of collaboration that suit North Wales better than that
proposed by Welsh Government. |
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To consider the
report of the GwE Assistant Director
(attached) Additional documents: Decision: To accept the contents of the report. Minutes: DECISION To accept the content of the report. Discussion Presented - a
report by GwE's Assistant Director setting out
information for Joint Committee members on GwE's work
programme for the period 12 March 2020 to 22 May 2020, as regards responding to
COVID-19. GwE's Assistant
Director noted that some of the report was dated and gave an overview of what
had happened during the lockdown. He also referred to the work recently
undertaken (as noted in the report under item 10). He added that the intention was to present a
more detailed report at the next meeting on 15 September 2020, giving a taster
of what has been undertaken in terms of supporting schools and collaborating
with the authorities during the current half term. This period has been a learning curve for
all. GwE's Managing Director
and Chairperson reiterated these comments and emphasised that one of the
strongest features running throughout the presentations at this meeting was
that collaboration with the six authorities across North Wales, despite always
being positive, had progressed to another level during the current crisis, and
that schools have benefited from this at several levels. Comments arising
from the discussion: ·
It was noted that the relationship between GwE and the
authorities has been very positive, particularly as regards the risk
assessments. This had alleviated pressure from schools and heads, and there was
a desire to see this collaboration continuing and further developing in future. ·
In response to a question about teachers' digital
skills, GwE's Managing Director noted that
everybody's technical and digital skills, including teachers, had developed
during this period. Increasing use of
technology would become essential in future, and there was room to use
technology to strengthen the relationship between the school and home. |
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To consider the
report of the GwE Assistant Director
(attached) Additional documents: Decision: To note and accept the contents of the report. Minutes: DECISION To note and accept the content of the report. Discussion Presented - a
report by GwE's Assistant Director setting out
information for Joint Committee members on the lead document 'Developing
integrated approaches to support blended learning for the phased opening of
schools'. GwE's Assistant
Director noted that vast materials had been produced during this time, which
could be shared with Joint Committee members in the autumn. The Chairperson
thanked GwE and the officers and schools that have been collaborating to bring
this report together. It was noted that years of work had been compacted into a
few weeks, and that this report would be a valuable resource in future. |
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RE-STARTING LEARNING MODEL FOR NORTH WALES PDF 366 KB To consider the
report of the GwE Managing Director and Chair of the GwE Management Board (attached) Additional documents: Decision: (a) Support the regional approach and model, with
GwE, Local Authorities and schools working in partnership to ensure that the
individual needs of learners are met in an individualised local context. (b) In order to allow schools to prepare and plan,
to ask for clarity from WJEC and Qualifications Wales regarding their plans for
summer 2021 as soon as possible. Minutes: DECISION (a) Support the regional approach and model, with
GwE, Local Authorities and schools working in partnership to ensure that
learners' individual needs are met in an individual local context. (b) In order to allow schools to prepare and
plan, seek clarity from WJEC and Qualifications Wales regarding their plans for
summer 2021 as soon as possible. Discussion Presented - report
by GwE's Managing Director and Management Board
Chairperson presenting a discussion paper in relation to a North Wales Model
for Re-opening Schools. The Joint
Committee was asked to support the regional approach and model, with GwE, Local
Authorities and schools working in partnership to ensure that learners'
individual needs are met in an individual local context. The Chairperson of
GwE's Management Board noted that schools are looking
forward to September however that caution needs to be taken and that schools
would need to assess their pupils' fitness for learning before introducing any
new learning. He also emphasised that it is extremely important that the
considerable expenditure needed in this respect be targeted appropriately, and
that the regions are entitled to decide how best to allocate the money. He added that Welsh Government acknowledges
that the work in North Wales is driving the agenda, and that they are eager to
roll this out across Wales. Comments arising
from the discussion - ·
Considerable concern was expressed about learners'
emotional well-being, children who would have disengaged from educational
experiences and needing support and counselling with their experiences over the
lockdown. It was noted that national
funding for counselling was completely inadequate and it was noted that an
element of the £29m as recently announced by the Education Minister for
supporting schools to recruit, reinstate and raise standards, or other funding,
should be targeted for this. ·
It was emphasised that it is important that whatever
happens should happen soon, so that everybody gets the opportunity to take a
proper break over the summer. ·
It was noted that it is clear that the secondary
sector requires more support than the primary sector in terms of social
distancing rules and creating bubbles etc., as secondary schools teach several
different subjects. In response, it was agreed that the situation with
secondary schools is much more challenging and complex, and reference was made
to the Government's new guidance, which includes re-drafted risk assessments. ·
The importance of ensuring that schools do not use
this additional funding to fund gaps in their budgets was emphasised. In
response, it was noted that Welsh Government had clearly stated that this is a
separate pot of money, which was not available to fund gaps in budgets, or to
prevent redundancies, and that schools must clearly show how the money will be
used. ·
It was noted that clarity is needed regarding the
situation of those pupils in years 11 and 13 in 2021. In response, it was noted that lack of
information about any possible adjustment to the qualifications would stop
schools from preparing and planning appropriately. · Reference was made to the importance ... view the full minutes text for item 10. |