Agenda item

To share information with Joint Committee members regarding GwE leadership arrangements until the end of the transitional period.

DECISION:

·       To accept and approve the content of the report.

·       That an urgent meeting needs to be called between the Transition Board, Joint Committee and Project Manager to discuss GwE's current position.

·       To thank GwE former Managing Director, Assistant Director and Senior Secondary Lead for their work and support with the Joint Committee.

·       To thank staff that have already left GwE for their commitment to the Service.

·       To thank Cyngor Gwynedd Officers for supporting this challenging transitional period.

Rhys Williams (GwE Head of Service - Professional Learning) and Euros Davies (GwE Head of Service - School Improvement) were welcomed.

A report was presented outlining operational arrangements and timescale for GwE's transitional period in response to the statement from the former Minister for Education and the Welsh Language on 31 January 2024, to make fundamental changes to the middle tier of the education system in Wales. On 1 August 2024, the Joint Committee approved the proposal to reduce the Senior Management Team from five to two until the end of March 2025, and consequently the current roles of the Managing Director, Assistant Director and Senior Secondary Lead have been removed from the structure since 1 September 2024. It was reported that Rhys Williams (GwE Head of Service - Professional Learning) and Euros Davies (GwE Head of Service - School Improvement) - the two remaining senior leads, have agreed to lead, manage and quality assure the core function of school improvement and professional learning and school support until the end of the transitional period.

Attention was drawn to the main matters to consider such as the work streams of the service until the end of the transitional period, including risk management and quality assurance in terms of the core function of GwE to support schools and authorities to fulfil their statutory roles; to support the Transition Board to establish purposeful processes and structures in order to respond successfully to the requirements of the middle tier review; to collaborate closely with the Transition Board, Project Manager and Human Resources to provide and share relevant information.

In order to ensure a successful transitional period, it was noted that it is essential there is regular and open communication between all stakeholders, and where lack of capacity is identified, possible solutions will need to be discussed with the relevant Authority. It was added that this would help to boost staff morale, well-being and motivation during these uncertain times.

Thanks were expressed for the report.

The Chairperson used this opportunity to thank those staff who had already left GwE, to the former Managing Director, Assistant Director and Senior Secondary Lead for their work and support with the Joint Committee and to Rhys Williams and Euros Davies for stepping in under such difficult and challenging circumstances.

Following the subsequent discussion it was noted:

·       That there was concern about insufficient funding to realise the work and that reserves would have to be used.

·       That the Transition Board needs to highlight GwE's current position and lack of budget to the Education Minister at Welsh Government as the situation stems from Welsh Government's decision to make fundamental changes to the middle tier of the education system in Wales.

·       That there was insufficient information about the situation - that the Joint Committee needs a better understanding of staffing implications and contractual responsibilities.

·       That an urgent meeting needs to be called between the Transition Board, Joint Committee and Project Manager to discuss the situation.

IT WAS DECIDED:

·       To accept and approve the content of the report.

·       That an urgent meeting needs to be called between the Transition Board, Joint Committee and Project Manager to discuss GwE's current position.

·       Thank GwE's former Managing Director, Assistant Director and Senior Secondary Lead for their work and support with the Joint Committee.

·       Thank staff that have already left GwE for their commitment to the Service.

·       Thank Cyngor Gwynedd Officers for supporting this challenging transitional period.