(oral report)
Minutes:
Statistics were presented to the
Joint Committee outlining results, main outcomes and issues for
consideration
The GwE Managing Director led the
Joint Committee through the report, noting as follows:
(a) Foundation Phase
·
GwE
performance is the lowest of all the regional consortia. However, national
steer has highlighted the need for a plateau in performance along with a robust
process of standardisation and verification across Wales.
·
teacher assessment continues to be a matter of
concern
·
there has been progress in the performance of FSM
pupils in 4 authorities since 2014, significantly so in Gwynedd and Môn.
·
there has been progress in performance since 2014
across all indicators on the higher level. However, regional progress in Welsh
is less than national progress.
·
some schools have performed below the median of
FSM benchmarks in key indicators over a rolling three year period and these
schools need to be robustly challenged
In response to a query, it was
confirmed that the above issues are expected.
(b) Key Stage 2
·
there has
been progress in GwE’s performance; however, as in
the Foundation Phase, national steer has highlighted the need for a plateau in
performance across Wales and a robust process of standardisation and
verification
·
teacher assessment continues to be a matter of
concern
·
there has
been progress in the performance of FSM pupils; however, there was a slight
decline in performance in Gwynedd and Môn
·
there has
been progress in performance since 2014 across all indicators on the expected
level, and progress is above the national average for every core subject
·
the above is in line with expectations, but,
again, some schools are performing below the national average and need specific
attention as part of the system of challenge
The following points were
highlighted during the subsequent discussion:
(i)
how firm is Welsh Government regarding
inconsistency in teacher assessment and do the Teachers’ Unions challenge the
Government on this?
In response, Mr Geraint Rees,
Welsh Government explained that an agreement was put in place for the 4 regions
to work together this year as the process is in place for the first time. It
was noted there is considerable variance between the 4 regions in Key Stage
2. With regard to KS4, it was reported
that the gap is closing. It was further noted that the categorisation process
requires strong implementation and the next step would be to tighten moderation
of teacher assessment. The process must take place and, as a result, lack of
confidence will have to be eradicated.
(ii)
Are Unions in agreement and are some Counties
facing problems? If so, would a discussion with the Minister for Education be
beneficial?
In response, it was noted that a
meeting with the Trade Unions is imminent so as to gather input on how things
are progressing. In addition, there will be an opportunity for the Chair of the
Joint Committee to raise the matter with the Minister in a meeting arranged for
16 October.
(iii)
Lack of confidence creates uncertainty
amongst learners and teachers and there needs to be a discussion on the
importance of consistency with regard to moderation.
The
GwE Managing Director noted that the final report would be available in November,
providing comparative figures with other Counties; nevertheless, the sample is
small and, as a result, will not provide the full picture. Categorisation of
primary schools is a national process and is proving to be a challenge this
year as Phase 1 of the categorisation highlights variances.
(iv)
More time to
analyse the statistics presented would have been appreciated. Whilst
acknowledging that there is concern regarding teacher assessment, authorities
setting targets is questioned, as school targets can be very different in other
Counties.
In response, the Managing Director explained that
the process will have an impact and that a target setting process is
operational regionally.
Mr Ian Budd (Lead Director –
Chair of Management Board) noted that an early indicative analysis of KS4
performance is useful, but it will be possible to analyse further by the next
Joint Committee meeting in November.
So as to be able to focus on
consistency, it was added that a clear message must be conveyed to Welsh
Government of the need for training, as it is clear there is much room for
improvement.
(v)
Is there confidence in the tracking process as
this is important in order to identify pupils’ strengths and weaknesses? Pupils should be encouraged to fulfil their
potential and those who are not achieving as well should also be encouraged.
(c) Key
Stage 3
·
GwE
performance is the highest of all the consortia
·
However,
in the context of KS4 performance, concern arises about the reliability of
teacher assessment
(ch) Key Stage 4
·
a slight
improvement of +0.2% in the key indicator when compared to 2014. However,
progress was significantly less than national progress of between +2>3% ; this is not
acceptable
·
on average, a +3.5% improvement
in red/amber category schools when compared to 2014. Individual schools have
seen significant improvements. This is indicative of the effectiveness of the
intervention programmes in place in those schools. However, a small percentage
of these schools are not performing as expected.
·
disappointing
performance in green and yellow category schools with significant
underperformance in individual schools where performance has been historically
good.
·
the majority of north Wales schools have seen an
oscillation in performance this year, with significant variance in some
schools. Internal tracking processes are not robust enough in too many schools.
·
performance in English and Mathematics continues
to be a significant concern in schools across the region
·
concern about performance in GCSE Science in the
future as the BTEC will no longer be a measure of performance in 2017.
The GwE Managing Director noted there had been no progress on
2014 results and that the region is not keeping up with the pace of progress
nationally. Whilst acknowledging that the cohort varies in individual schools
and that progress cannot be expected every year, appropriate actions must be considered.
The following points were highlighted during the subsequent discussion:
(i)
thanks
were expressed for the data and it was agreed that inconsistency with regard to
teacher assessment must be addressed, but there is no certainty of what is
intended with regard to the moderation process.
(ii)
should
the business plan be adapted? And would it be possible to have information as
to why there is progress in some regions and what happens in local
schools?
(iii)
are the
current model and resources suitable and appropriate
(iv)
prompt
action must be ensured so as to address KS4 performance in Mathematics and
English
(v)
there
needs to be a much more robust analysis of the factors arising from KS4
performance. From the dialogue with schools, threatening schools needs to be
stopped and there needs to be clarity on what happens in north Wales. A
dialogue with Headteachers would be useful so that
they can elaborate on the difficulties.
(vi)
on
considering the messages of page 16/17 of the data, there is concern whether
there is enough capacity to fill in gaps, especially when good teachers are
lost to central posts and, as a result, lack of Headteacher/teacher
recruitment.
(vii)
it was
noted that some SCC schools have made astonishing progress and that progress in
some schools has deteriorated
(viii)
using
colours to indicate school categorisation is not useful to schools
(ix)
the standard
of education must be the best possible for pupils and if schools are in
difficulties then early support must be ensured for them
In response to the above
comments, it was noted that the analysis process is underway along with the
regional overview; but, it was acknowledged that the analysis needs to be
authority specific and that, in this respect, the support will perhaps vary
between one authority and another. A further report will be presented to the
Joint Committee in November.
It was decided to: (a) Accept and note the statistics
presented along with the above comments
(b) Approve
receipt of a further report in the next Joint
Committee meeting in November