Issue - meetings

To receive the analysis of recent Estyn Inspection Reports (copy enclosed).

Agreement on the recommendation was by consensus.  No formal vote was taken.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the report be received and noted;

(b)       a letter be sent to the schools inspected informing them that their Inspection Report had been considered, congratulating them on the good features identified and reminding them of the services of the RE Adviser and School Improvement Officers in relation to any areas for development or key issues needing addressing, and

(c)        the Local Authority be requested to distribute the above letters.

The RE Adviser submitted a report (previously circulated) analysing the results of Estyn inspections in terms of RE provision and collective worship in four schools between October 2019 – February 2020.  Inspections had been carried out at Ysgol Dyffryn Ial; St. Asaph VP Infants; Ysgol Cefn Meiriadog and Ysgol Bryn Hedydd.

Members considered the findings relating to each school and were pleased to note the positive comments and outcomes.  Whilst accepting that Estyn was required to follow a prescribed format when carrying out their inspections it was generally felt a more individualised report for each school would add value and interest.

There was some debate about how schools were having to change and adapt in difficult circumstances to deal with the restrictions and challenges of Covid-19.  The RE Adviser reported upon discussions with some schools and highlighted the benefits of smaller class assemblies with opportunities for pupils to express their thoughts and fears and to talk through issues with real purpose which had proved valuable to pupils’ and staff wellbeing.  Jennie Downes endorsed those views and reported upon her experience with Church in Wales schools.  She advised that whilst a lot of resources were going out to schools, the schools themselves were also producing their own resources and she provided an illustrative example to highlight the creativity in classrooms and amazing work being undertaken in difficult circumstances.  She felt the challenge was to find a way to capture the excellent work going on in schools and sharing it for the benefit of others.  The Chair queried whether that information could be sought when circulating the newsletter and the RE Adviser agreed to invite informal responses within his email to schools both in terms of the newsletter and in that regard.  Jennie Downes also suggested the use of twitter to highlight and share good practice carried out in schools.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the report be received and noted;

(b)       a letter be sent to the schools inspected informing them that their Inspection Report had been considered, congratulating them on the good features identified and reminding them of the services of the RE Adviser and School Improvement Officers in relation to any areas for development or key issues needing addressing, and

(c)        the Local Authority be requested to distribute the above letters.