Weekly Round-Up from the Director of Learning and Skills

16 January 2026

Hi everyone,

As Director of Learning and Skills, I wanted to use this Friday’s end-of-week message to write about school budgets as this subject has been in the local news recently.

It is a sensitive and emotive topic as schools across the board are dealing with financial challenges of a scale and complexity never seen before.

Unfortunately, we are at the sharp end of a situation brought about by more than a decade of real-terms Local Authority funding cuts alongside soaring demand for Additional Learning Needs (ALN)and Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) provision.

This means senior leaders are having to make unbelievably difficult decisions to make their schools sustainable for the future.

These choices are painful – they are brutal.

None of us came into the education sector to deal with situations like this.

Often, no-one sees the sacrifices that are being made or the effect it has on the people involved and those around them.

But, without these hugely tough calls, there would be grave uncertainty over our children’s education and questions about the very future of the Council, such is the weight of financial pressure.

We are making these decisions so future generations can enjoy the same opportunities and possibilities as those that came before them and to ensure schools remain at the heart of their communities.

In recent times, managing a school has required extraordinary levels of grit, determination, resilience and resourcefulness.

However, alongside that, staff continue to show the same commitment and enthusiasm to provide excellent education and care to children across the Vale.

I and Council colleagues fully recognise and appreciate the extreme emotional, mental and physical effort being put in to not only keep schools running but thriving.

It has taken enormous quantities of strength and spirit and been motivated by a belief in the potential of every child.

Thank you for that conscientiousness and for the profound impact you have in shaping our young people every single day.

The parameters within which schools operate are changing at pace – and some have found themselves in a particularly difficult position

In such cases the Council is legally required to act, which is why some schools received Formal Warning Notices.

Local Authorities must monitor accounts, provide advice, and intervene if a school’s financial position becomes unsustainable as part of a statutory responsibility. 

We have been working with the schools in question for some time and this support will of course continue as we move towards a sound financial footing together.

In doing that, there is inspiration to take from the achievements of colleagues across the county who, with support from the Council, have successfully reduced costs, improved services and built long‑term capacity.

Working in partnership with Vale Waste Services, 28 schools have moved away from external waste contracts, saving more than £98,000 since September, a shift that has also resolved long‑standing collection issues and improved recycling practices.

Alongside this, eight schools will shortly roll out a new digital booking system for their buildings and facilities, giving them access to new revenue streams.

Work is also underway to modernise printing contracts to improve consistency and offer better value for money.

Many schools have been helped switch from paid-for software products to free alternatives already used by the Council, which means systems are better integrated and processes more streamlined, potentially saving thousands of pounds annually.

Together, these and other initiatives are helping to deliver real financial benefits, improved systems, and stronger partnerships across the education sector.

They are examples of how operational efficiencies, clearer communication, and a renewed, evidence‑led approach to improvement can help schools meet the evolving needs of learners under extremely challenging financial conditions.

Transformation is happening across the Council in the form of the Reshaping Programme, which aims to develop new innovative ways of providing services.

Every staff member has permission to assist with this work by reinventing processes and making improvements in their areas.

I’d like to again thank school staff for their dedication as they continue to operate in exceptionally testing circumstances.

That professionalism, fortitude and care for our children is seen and valued by myself and the rest of the Strategic Leadership Team (SLT).

I’d also like to express my gratitude to all staff working across the Council for your efforts.

For those of you not in work, I hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Diolch yn fawr,

Liz