Agenda item

Cabinet Member – Councillor Cemlyn Williams

To consider a report on the above  (attached).

To accept the report and to note the observations submitted during the meeting

Submitted – the report of the Cabinet Member for Education detailing the informal engagement process with stakeholders on Post-16 Education in Arfon.

The Cabinet Member set out the context explaining that his intention was for the discussion to be opened to the public.  If there had been any allegations made in the past regarding decisions having already been made, he was eager for the Council to go out with a clean slate, and that the meetings should be transparent, open, objective and also possibly innovative.  He welcomed the fact that the discussion had started in Arfon, and he welcomed the ideas that had come to hand.  Some schools had been more involved in the discussion than others, and there was a responsibility to ensure that every school was participating.  He referred specifically to the mature input of the pupils of Ysgol Tryfan and Ysgol Brynrefail at one meeting, which had left quite an impression on him.  He added that historically, provision had been fragmented, and there was an opportunity now to seek consistency across the county, and secure the best provision in the interest of the pupils. 

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and make observations.  It was noted that there was concern that any changes could weaken the Welsh language, and there was an appetite to improve learning through the medium of Welsh because of the current weaknesses.

In response to questions from members, it was noted:-

·         That the Cabinet's request was for the service to look at the provision in Arfon in the first instance.  It was emphasised that there was a wish to build on the apparent strengths of the post-16 system and that the discussion was currently focused on Arfon schools.  The informal meetings had been very interesting, and the discussions had been mature on many options, ranging from minor changes to the existing system to a sixth form centre for all pupils.  It was emphasised that the Department did not have any specific plans at the moment, and that the responses needed to be analysed before reporting to the Cabinet.  It was added that the evidence demonstrated clearly that standards were not consistent across Arfon schools.  There were inconsistencies within individual schools as well, e.g. a few subjects or fields were not performing as well in some schools, and there was a wish to strengthen this.  Intentionally, at the Cabinet's request, no options had been proposed, as the aim was to see what the public thought were the best options.  Some good proposals had been received, and the Department was processing the responses before going back to Cabinet with a number of ideas that merited further discussions.

·         It was noted that the quality of the education was the main priority that had been highlighted in the sessions, along with the importance of ensuring that this experience would be available to all learners.  Other apparent themes included the Welsh language and Welsh medium and bilingual education provision.  Also, in light of this period, there had been significant discussions on technology.  The general opinion was expressed that face-to-face learning was the best educational experience any learner could get, but that the digital learning element could support that face-to-face learning.

·         We had a robust system in terms of the Welsh language in Gwynedd, however there was a perception among a cohort of learners and their parents that the Welsh language was a disadvantage as a medium for learning STEM subjects, despite there being no evidence to support this.  If anything, the truth was to the contrary, and the Department was eager to have the Welsh language as a central principle throughout the discussions.  It was acknowledged that there were inconsistencies in Gwynedd in terms of academic courses and partnership vocational courses that were currently being offered, and it was believed there were deficiencies in terms of the Welsh language also, but the review would ensure that we had an appropriate provision for our learners in their chosen language, be that Welsh or English.  It was added that the Department was very eager to promote a prominent place for the Welsh language in the post-16, along with the quality and consistency of the quality of education and experiences the children were receiving. 

·         It was acknowledged there was doubt as to whether the Department was engaging with a clean slate, but it was emphasised that the intention of the review as a whole was to look at the provision throughout all of Gwynedd, to learn lessons from what had happened in Meirionnydd and Dwyfor, and to strengthen the provision.  This had been done at the Cabinet's request as the power of the Education Authority and the Council was specifically over those schools where the sixth from was located, namely in Arfon, and the intention was to look to strengthen that provision first.  In light of the review, it was intended to look at any lessons learned, because, although the Authority was not directly responsible for tertiary provision, we had a moral responsibility to achieve everything we could for every learner in Gwynedd.  The Government had authorised spending £18 million in the field, with a substantial portion of this money coming from investment from Gwynedd Council through an asset management plant.  It was important that this money was being spent, and no matter what the solution, it was considered that it would be possible to make effective use of the money to strengthen the provision.

·         That it was difficult to say with certainty what the timetable of the process would be until there was confirmation on the Welsh Government Election in May.  Should there be no election, it was possible that a report could be submitted to the Cabinet around April with the findings of the engagement process, however otherwise, the timetable would slip due to the pre-election period.

RESOLVED to accept the report, noting the observations made during the meeting.