Decision details

Debate: The Estyn Annual Report 2011-12

Decision Maker: Plenary - Fourth Assembly

Status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Decision:

The item started at 15.40

NDM5189 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the annual report for 2011-12 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales.  

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add new point at end of motion:

Notes in particular the conclusion of the Chief Inspector that 'attendance remains the weakest aspect of wellbeing for schools'.

Amendment 1 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 2 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add new point at end of motion:

Notes the need, identified by the Chief Inspector, for more support for teachers in delivering improvements in standards.

Amendment 2 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 3 - Jocelyn Davies (South Wales East)

Add new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to intensify its focus on sharing best practice in education on breaking the cycle of poverty and disadvantage in schools.

Amendment 3 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Amendment 4 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add new point at end of motion:

Regrets the findings within the report that the proportion of schools inspected in 2011-12 that were judged excellent or good was lower than the previous year, with more secondary schools at the extremes of excellent or unsatisfactory performance.

Amendment 4 was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

Voting on the motion and the remaining amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

Amendment 5 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to review guidance issued to schools to ensure the Pupil Deprivation Grant is used to effectively target the high absenteeism rates of pupils on free school meals, to maximise the achievement levels of pupils from poorer backgrounds.

A vote was taken on Amendment 5:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

14

11

28

53

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that Estyn reports on how effectively the Pupil Deprivation Grant is being used by schools to narrow the attainment gap between pupils from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds.

A vote was taken on Amendment 6:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

32

20

0

52

Amendment 6 was agreed.

Amendment 7 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add new point at end of motion:

Expresses concern that 54% of secondary schools and 48% of primary schools have been identified for follow up visits, which is an increase on last year.

A vote was taken on Amendment 7:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

53

0

0

53

Amendment 7 was agreed.

Amendment 8 - Aled Roberts (North Wales)

Add new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to establish national targets and benchmarks to monitor the progress being made to tackle the gap between deprivation and attainment.

A vote was taken on Amendment 8:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

16

10

28

54

Amendment 8 was not agreed.

Amendment 9 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets that 'more able and talented pupils achieve less well in Wales than in England', according to the report.

A vote was taken on Amendment 9:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

28

54

Amendment 9 was not agreed.

Amendment 10 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Expresses deep concern that there is a need to achieve better literacy standards in over half of Wales' primary and secondary schools, according to the report.

A vote was taken on Amendment 10:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

26

0

28

54

Amendment 10 was not agreed.

Amendment 11 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Regrets Estyn’s findings which suggest the existence of 'mediocre teaching performance'.

A vote was taken on Amendment 11:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

39

0

14

53

Amendment 11 was agreed.

Amendment 12 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Urges the Minister to explain what influence Welsh Government officials exerted on this report from an independent arm’s length body

A vote was taken on Amendment 12:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

11

0

43

54

Amendment 12 was not agreed.

Amendment 13 - William Graham (South Wales East)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to undertake urgent action to address the failings in the Welsh educational system identified by Estyn.

A vote was taken on Amendment 13:

For

Abstain

Against

Total

17

0

37

54

Amendment 13 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM5189 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

Notes the annual report for 2011-12 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales.  

Notes in particular the conclusion of the Chief Inspector that 'attendance remains the weakest aspect of wellbeing for schools'.

Notes the need, identified by the Chief Inspector, for more support for teachers in delivering improvements in standards.

Calls on the Welsh Government to intensify its focus on sharing best practice in education on breaking the cycle of poverty and disadvantage in schools.

Regrets the findings within the report that the proportion of schools inspected in 2011-12 that were judged excellent or good was lower than the previous year, with more secondary schools at the extremes of excellent or unsatisfactory performance.

Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure that Estyn reports on how effectively the Pupil Deprivation Grant is being used by schools to narrow the attainment gap between pupils from disadvantaged and more affluent backgrounds.

Expresses concern that 54% of secondary schools and 48% of primary schools have been identified for follow up visits, which is an increase on last year.

Regrets Estyn’s findings which suggest the existence of 'mediocre teaching performance'.

 

For

Abstain

Against

Total

43

11

0

54

The motion as amended was agreed.

Publication date: 19/03/2013

Date of decision: 19/03/2013

Decided at meeting: 19/03/2013 - Plenary - Fourth Assembly