The meeting began with the appointment of Councillor Theresa Carvery as the chair of the committee for the municipal year. Councillor Caroline Priest was appointed as the vice-chair. The meeting covered several key topics, including school attendance and exclusions, changes to school improvement delivery models in Wales, and the revised frameworks for Estyn inspections.

School Attendance and Exclusions

The committee reviewed the attendance and exclusion data for Flintshire schools for the academic year 2022-2023. Attendance levels have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, but there has been some improvement. Flintshire's primary school attendance is the fifth highest in Wales, and secondary attendance is the third highest. The committee noted the challenges posed by changing parental attitudes towards school attendance and the financial climate affecting schools' ability to provide support services. The use of fixed penalty notices for non-attendance has been reintroduced, and there is ongoing work to support children with mental health challenges and neurodiversity.

Changes to School Improvement Delivery Models in Wales

The committee discussed the changes to school improvement delivery models following a review by the Welsh Government. The funding previously provided to regional educational consortia will now be directed to local authorities and schools. Flintshire has decided to passport the majority of this funding back to the regional consortia, GwE, to ensure continuity of support for schools. The committee acknowledged the significant change management required to develop new models of school improvement and the importance of maintaining stability during this transition period.

Estyn Revised Frameworks for Inspections

The committee received an update on the revised frameworks for Estyn inspections of schools and local government education services. From September 2024, schools will receive a 10-day notice for core inspections, and the number of inspection areas will be reduced from five to three. An interim visit will be introduced to check on progress between core inspections. For local government education services, the notification period will be reduced to eight weeks, and there will be a dedicated inspection of youth services. The committee noted the importance of these changes in ensuring effective oversight and support for schools.

The meeting concluded with a discussion on the importance of trauma-informed practice in schools and the development of a belonging strategy to support student engagement and well-being. The committee expressed interest in receiving further information on these initiatives in future meetings.