Agenda item

To consider the report

DECISION:

·       To accept the report and approve the GwE operational arrangements for the period between 01/04/25 and 31/05/25.

·       Clarity is needed on additional cost charges beyond May 2025. Will the burden be taken on by individual Local Authorities or the Welsh Government?

A joint report was submitted by the Head of Service - School Improvement, and GwE Head of Service - Professional Learning, setting out GwE’s operating arrangements for the period 01/04/2025 to 31/05/2025.  It was explained that the Chief Executives of the six Education Authorities had now confirmed the termination date of GwE as 31 May rather than 31 March 2025 which meant that the Service would continue beyond the current financial year, and the existing Commissioning Agreements and Business Plans, for a period of an additional two months.  It was reiterated that the contracts of individuals on secondment or working on a commission to GwE terminated on 31 March and that this would affect the capacity of the Service.  It was also noted that although it was a two-month period, the schools would only be open for six weeks during this period due to the Easter holidays and half term. 

While it was not feasible to produce a Business Plan and Commissioning Agreement for this short period of time, it was reported that the Service would continue to support schools in line with the core requirements and that the Supporting Improvement Advisers would respond flexibly to schools’ requirements ensuring a smooth and seamless service during this transitional period.  This would include the routine visits to monitor and ensure the quality of teaching and learning in the schools.  It was reiterated that if there was a shortfall that could not be met, the Service would consider commissioning headteachers by agreement with the Chief Education Officers and in accordance with what was agreed in the Joint Committee on 2 October 2024.

In the context of the National Professional Learning Programme Timetables, it was noted that some national training cohorts, which were the responsibility of GwE, would not be completed by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.  In response, it was noted that the Welsh Government had made a verbal commitment to ensure that any national professional learning programme continued to its completion.

In the context of Local/Regional Training, it was noted that the timetable was limited to the 2024/25 grant terms and therefore it was not feasible to put together a Professional Learning offer for schools for a period of two months in 2025/26.  Flexibility for GwE staff to conduct sessions would depend on the need and capacity they have, given that GwE would have a limited team after Easter.

Thanks was expressed for the report.

During the subsequent discussion, members submitted the following observations:

·        That there was a need to work with the Education Departments to ensure that there would be no further costs.

·        That the Welsh Government, through Local Authorities, was committed to ensuring that colleagues working on programmes successfully completed them – continuity needed to be ensured.

·        Costs beyond May 2025 – would the burden be shouldered by the Authorities or by the Welsh Government?  Clarity was needed.

In response to a question regarding staff capacity it was stated that GwE would seek to secure support for schools with discussions held with individual Authorities to discuss the situations where there was the greatest need.

         RESOLVED:

·        To accept the report and approve GwE's operating arrangements for the period 01/04/25 to 31/05/25.

·        That clarity was needed on additional cost payments beyond May 2025.  Would the burden be shouldered by the individual Local Authorities or by the Welsh Government?