Agenda Item No
The Vale of Glamorgan Council
Scrutiny Committee [Lifelong Learning] 30th November 2009
Director of Learning and Development
Forward Work Programme
Purpose of the Report
1.
To review and amend as appropriate, the Forward Work Programme for
the Scrutiny Committee [Lifelong Learning].
Recommendation
That the Scrutiny Committee [Lifelong
Learning] determine the Work Programme for the remainder of the
municipal year.
Reason for the Recommendation
To enable Members to consider and amend the
Work Programme as appropriate to reflect the priorities they have
identified in "Education 2015", the Council vision for Education
and Lifelong Learning.
Background
2.
The Scrutiny Committee [Lifelong Learning] agreed an outline work
programme following the re-establishment of the Committee at Annual
Council. At that time, Scrutiny Members acknowledged that new
Heads of Service had been appointed recently and that there would
need to be a review of Service Plans and Work Programme priorities
as the new Learning and Development Management Team became
established.
Relevant Issues and Options
3.
Since the appointment of new Heads of Service, one focus of the
work of the Directorate has been the development of Education 2015,
a vision for Education Services within the Vale of Glamorgan.
That vision has been developed after extensive consultations with
Headteachers, Governors, Partners, Staff and Teaching
Associations. The Scrutiny Committee [Lifelong Learning]
agreed the draft for consultation and agreed a number of amendments
prior to submitting the document to Cabinet for approval. The
key strategic priorities agreed are:-
· meeting the needs
of vulnerable learners
· engaging parents
and carers
· improving the
learning environment
· raising pupil
attainment
· extending Post 16
Education.
4.
Within "Education 2015", details of the purpose and values of the
service are explained, as is the overarching obligation on all
parties to work together to promote wellbeing.
5.
The vision has been launched to schools with the support of Cabinet
and Corporate Management Team. Given the wholehearted support
for this important initiative, the Chair and Vice-Chair of the
Committee have suggested that the document be used as a basis for
the Scrutiny Committee to review its work programme to ensure that
appropriate focus and challenge is given to those priorities which
have now been agreed.
6.
This would be consistent with developments in other areas where at
a Corporate level, the Community Strategy and Corporate Plan are
being reviewed, at Directorate level where the identified
priorities will shape the Service Plans currently in development
and at school level where the School Development Plans will
inevitably be informed by the identified priority areas of
activity.
7.
Attached at Appendix
A is a revised Draft Committee Work Programme which is designed
to provide the Scrutiny Committee with the opportunity to focus on
the progress of the Directorate in delivery of the agreed
priorities.
8.
In planning the Work Programme, Members have suggested that there
may be issues which can be covered by information reports that need
not take the time of the Committee. It has also been
suggested that rather than receiving reports on the progress of the
Foundation Phase and 14-19 Learning Pathways, there would be merit
in visiting schools to see the new arrangements in operation and to
hear the views of pupils and teachers directly.
9.
It should be emphasised at this point, that the proposed programme
is a draft and that it is for the Scrutiny Committee to agree,
amend or reprioritise the content as Members see fit.
10. At the last meeting,
Members decided to replace the programmed meeting on
2nd November with a special event to invite Headteachers to
discuss the Perception Survey results. It will be important
that any actions agreed as a result of these deliberations are also
included in the Work Programme.
Resource Implications (Financial and Employment)
11. There are no resource
implications arising directly from this report.
Legal Implications (to Include Human Rights Implications)
12. The legal
implications arising from any of the reports suggested will be
detailed in the documents presented to Scrutiny.
Crime and Disorder Implications
13. These will be
detailed in the reports presented.
Equal Opportunities Implications (to include Welsh Language
issues)
14. All reports will
reflect the Council's commitment to equality of opportunity.
Corporate/Service Objectives
15. This report is
consistent with the Council's priorities for Education and Lifelong
Learning.
Policy Framework and Budget
16. The work programme is
a matter for Scrutiny Committee to determine.
Consultation (including Ward Member Consultation)
17. Chair and Vice-Chair
of Scrutiny Committee.
Relevant Scrutiny Committee
18. Lifelong Learning
Background Papers
Previous reports to Scrutiny Committee.
Contact Officer
Bryan Jeffreys, Director of Learning and
Development
Officers Consulted
Jeff Rees - Democratic Services
Helen Moses - Improvement Team
Responsible Officer:
Bryan Jeffreys, Director of Learning and
Development