Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Eryl Williams, Lead Member for Education (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s approval of the proposed National Model for Regional Working on School Improvement and the development of a business plan.

RESOLVED that the National Model for Regional Working on School Improvement be adopted and that a business plan be developed with the intention that the additional services listed in the Model be incorporated into the GwE regional model, in phases, subject to a satisfactory business case for each and a supporting transition plan to ensure service continuity and performance.

Councillor Eryl Williams presented the report updating members on developments in relation to school improvement services and seeking Cabinet’s approval of the proposed National Model for Regional Working on School Improvement and the development of a business plan.  The aim of the Model was to bring consistency and stability to the local authority regional school improvement services. 

Cabinet supported the Model in principle but sought assurances that Denbighshire’s improvement in education standards would continue under the new Model and that Denbighshire would not be detrimentally affected.  Questions were also raised regarding funding, resources and accountability issues.  Councillor Williams and the officers responded as follows –

·        statutory responsibility for education and school improvement had not been transferred and remained with local authorities

·        the intention was to provide consistency of delivery across the consortia and the Model did not differ significantly from Denbighshire’s own approach

·        functions would only be transferred if they were more effectively managed regionally and would first be subject to a full business case review

·        the importance of a quality assurance process to ensure no regression in standards was highlighted

·        funding was proportionate and intervention would be targeted to greatest need

·        any major change to the national model would need to go through the democratic process

·        an evaluation of the Model’s outcomes would be carried out when the first results were received.

The importance of the School Standards Monitoring Group was highlighted in order to challenge schools and identify strengths and weaknesses.  Councillor Williams stressed the importance of member involvement within that process which would be further considered by the Chairs and Vice Chairs Group.  He also cautioned against complacency and the need to strive for continual improvement in schools.

RESOLVED that the National Model for Regional Working on School Improvement be adopted and that a business plan be developed with the intention that the additional services listed in the Model be incorporated into the GwE regional model, in phases, subject to a satisfactory business case for each and a supporting transition plan to ensure service continuity and performance.