Meetings

6.1 The Committee considered the evidence it heard in the previous sessions.

Meilyr Rowlands, HM Chief Inspector – Estyn

Claire Morgan, Strategic Director – Estyn

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director – Estyn

2.1 The Committee scrutinised Estyn on its Annual Report and on matters relating to the impact of COVID-19.

2.2 Due to lack of time the question on early years was cut short, Estyn were invited to provide a fuller response in writing should they wish.

5.1 The Committee considered the evidence heard during the session with Estyn.

Meilyr Rowlands, HM Chief Inspector – Estyn

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director – Estyn

Claire Morgan, Strategic Director – Estyn

2.1 The Committee scrutinised Estyn’s annual report.

NDM6969 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Annual Report for 2017-18 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales that was laid in Table Office on 11 December 2018.

2. Welcomes that the “shift in culture towards a more collaborative and self-improving system continues apace”.

3. Notes that standards are good or better in 8 in 10 primary schools, an increase on last year.

4. Notes that whilst standards remain good or better in about half of secondary schools, variability remains a key challenge.

Annual Report for 2017-18 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Regrets the Annual Report for 2017-18 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales’s findings that for pupils in half of Wales’s secondary schools, a majority of pupils across all age and ability ranges do not make enough progress.

2. Regrets that in half of schools, the majority of pupils do not achieve in line with their abilities by the time they reach the end of compulsory schooling.

3. Regrets the continuing fall in the number of settings delivering education for 3 and 4 year olds.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to explain any internal audit processes it may have with regard to regional consortia and to share the results of any internal or external audit that may have been carried out since the publication of Estyn’s follow-up guidance for regional consortia and inspectors in September 2017.

Estyn - Follow-up guidance for regional consortia and inspectors - September 2017

Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the continued dedication of teachers and support staff in our schools as they work to improve standards and pupils' attainment.

Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the Donaldson report on Estyn, A Learning Inspectorate; an independent review of Estyn, that was published in June 2018 and has not yet received a response from the Welsh Government.

A Learning Inspectorate: Independent review of Estyn - Graham Donaldson

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the Cardiff University report 'Cut to the Bone?' which confirms that school spending in 2017-18 was £324 less per pupil in real terms than the corresponding figure in 2009-10.

Cardiff University - Cut to the bone? An analysis of Local Government finances in Wales, 2009-10 to 2017-18 and the outlook to 2023-24

Amendment 5 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes ASCL Cymru's open letter and its comments that there is a severe funding crisis in Welsh schools that is having a detrimental effect on Wales's young people.

Open letter from ASCL Cymru to the Minister for Education

Amendment 6 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider fair funding from the budget that would lessen the current pressures that exist on our schools.

The item started 17.11

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

NDM6969 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Annual Report for 2017-18 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales that was laid in Table Office on 11 December 2018.

2. Welcomes that the “shift in culture towards a more collaborative and self-improving system continues apace”.

3. Notes that standards are good or better in 8 in 10 primary schools, an increase on last year.

4. Notes that whilst standards remain good or better in about half of secondary schools, variability remains a key challenge.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete all and replace with:

1. Regrets the Annual Report for 2017-18 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales’s findings that for pupils in half of Wales’s secondary schools, a majority of pupils across all age and ability ranges do not make enough progress.

2. Regrets that in half of schools, the majority of pupils do not achieve in line with their abilities by the time they reach the end of compulsory schooling.

3. Regrets the continuing fall in the number of settings delivering education for 3 and 4 year olds.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to explain any internal audit processes it may have with regard to regional consortia and to share the results of any internal or external audit that may have been carried out since the publication of Estyn’s follow-up guidance for regional consortia and inspectors in September 2017.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the continued dedication of teachers and support staff in our schools as they work to improve standards and pupils' attainment.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was agreed.

Amendment 3 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the Donaldson report on Estyn, A Learning Inspectorate; an independent review of Estyn, that was published in June 2018 and has not yet received a response from the Welsh Government.

A vote was taken on amendment 3:

Amendment 3 was not agreed.

Amendment 4 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes the Cardiff University report 'Cut to the Bone?' which confirms that school spending in 2017-18 was £324 less per pupil in real terms than the corresponding figure in 2009-10.

A vote was taken on amendment 4:

Amendment 4 was not agreed.

Amendment 5 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Notes ASCL Cymru's open letter and its comments that there is a severe funding crisis in Welsh schools that is having a detrimental effect on Wales's young people.

A vote was taken on amendment 5:

Amendment 5 was not agreed.

Amendment 6 - Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Calls on the Welsh Government to consider fair funding from the budget that would lessen the current pressures that exist on our schools.

A vote was taken on amendment 6:

Amendment 6 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

NDM6969 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the Annual Report for 2017-18 of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales that was laid in Table Office on 11 December 2018.

2. Welcomes that the “shift in culture towards a more collaborative and self-improving system continues apace”.

3. Notes that standards are good or better in 8 in 10 primary schools, an increase on last year.

4. Notes that whilst standards remain good or better in about half of secondary schools, variability remains a key challenge.

5. Notes the continued dedication of teachers and support staff in our schools as they work to improve standards and pupils' attainment.

The motion as amended was agreed.

Meilyr Rowlands, HM Chief Inspector

Claire Morgan, Strategic Director

Jassa Scott, Strategic Director

3.1 Members scrutinised Estyn on its Annual Report.

3.2 Estyn agreed to provide a note on any best practice seen in Flying Start settings.