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Today two reports have been published by Estyn in respect of education services in Merthyr Tydfil and Monmouthshire local authorities.  I am making this statement to highlight to Members the judgements in those reports.


Both reports contain important criticisms of the performance of each of the local authorities.


In their overall judgements the Estyn inspection teams found that the current performance of both of the local authorities’ education services are unsatisfactory and also found that both of the local authority’s prospects for improvement are unsatisfactory.  In light of these very serious shortcomings, Estyn believe that special measures are required in relation to both of these authorities.  


There can be no doubt that these are very critical reports.  The shortcomings identified are unacceptable and we will move swiftly to put arrangements in place to secure the necessary improvements.  The fact that both of these authorities have been found in need of special measures is a damning reflection.


Despite the differences in their demographic context and the challenges the authorities face both are judged to be unsatisfactory in their current performance and in their prospects for improvement.


In terms of the individual reports I will provide a brief overview in respect of each.  


In Monmouthshire the authority’s education services are found to be unsatisfactory because performance when compared to similar schools, according to free\-school\-meal entitlement, has been well below average. The progress between primary and secondary schools is also well below average.  The overall number of days lost to fixed term exclusions is too high. The inspection team found that the authority’s arrangements for supporting and challenging schools are not robust enough and have not had enough impact.  Their strategic planning for additional learning needs is weak.  It is also of considerable concern to note that the authority’s arrangements for safeguarding do not meet requirements.


Estyn also judged Monmouthshire’s prospects for improvement as unsatisfactory.  This is because of the lack of strategic and operational capacity in the Children’s and Young People’s Directorate which has contributed to the failure to improve in key areas.  The inspection team also found that elected members do not receive the information they need to hold officers to account fully.  The inspection team found that self\-evaluation processes are not rigorous enough and that within the directorate corporate planning arrangements are not effective.  Furthermore, the inspection determined that officers do not use quality assurance processes or evaluate data consistently enough to know where resources and services should be directed to achieve the best outcomes for its learners.  Performance management processes are not consistently implemented within the directorate and leaders and managers are not always able to direct staff or hold them to account well enough.  


In respect of Merthyr the local authority’s performance is unsatisfactory as, at all key stages, standards for learners are unsatisfactory, exclusion rates are too high, too many young people are not in education, employment or training, and attendance rates in primary schools are unacceptably low.  Support for school improvement and for promoting social inclusion and wellbeing is unsatisfactory; and the impact of youth services is not evaluated to check that the provision addresses needs.  Overall, the failure of leaders to implement systems to identify strengths and weaknesses in schools has resulted in a lack of challenge and too little improvement in standards.  


Estyn also judged Merthyr’s prospects for improvement as unsatisfactory.  Senior officers and elected members of the council have not challenged underperformance or poor outcomes for learners.  Officers have not provided reports to members that analyse performance data well enough to identify progress and key areas for improvement.  The inspection team found that the local authority does not have in place a robust and continuous self\-evaluation process for its education services.  Nor has it responded well enough to the recommendations from past inspections including those going back to 2004\.  The inspection team concluded that the authority lacks effective systems to judge whether initiatives and services have a positive impact on children and young people or offer good value for money.


I am very concerned to note the findings and the recommendations of both of these Estyn reports.  Both authorities are in a serious position and it is abundantly clear that urgent action is required now to turn this around.


I have spoken to the Leaders of Merthyr and Monmouthshire.


I intend to intervene in both authorities in order to put the necessary arrangements and support in place to secure improvement as quickly as possible.  I have a range of options.  I am considering the establishment of independent recovery boards to oversee the improvements needed, monitor progress made and provide accountability.  A further option I am considering is the handing over of some or all of the executive functions in relation to education services to another body.  


I will provide a further update to Members outlining decisions and actions in the coming weeks.







Translation:


 
               Mae Estyn wedi cyhoeddi dau adroddiad heddiw ynghylch gwasanaethau addysg o fewn awdurdodau lleol Merthyr Tudful a Sir Fynwy. Rwy’n cyflwyno’r datganiad hwn er mwyn tynnu sylw’r Aelodau at y dyfarniadau a nodir yn yr adroddiadau hynny. 

Mae’r ddau adroddiad yn cynnwys beirniadaethau pwysig ynghylch perfformiad y ddau awdurdod lleol.

Yn eu dyfarniadau cyffredinol canfu timau arolygu Estyn fod perfformiad presennol gwasanaethau addysg y ddau awdurdod lleol yn anfoddhaol. Canfu hefyd fod rhagolygon yr awdurdodau lleol ar gyfer gwella yn anfoddhaol. O ystyried y diffygion difrifol hyn cred Estyn fod angen cyflwyno mesurau arbennig o fewn y ddau awdurdod lleol hyn.   

Yn ddiamau mae’r adroddiadau hyn yn rhai beirniadol iawn. Mae’r diffygion hyn yn annerbyniol a byddwn yn mynd ati’n gyflym i sefydlu trefniadau ar gyfer sicrhau’r gwelliannau angenrheidiol. Mae’r ffaith bod angen mesurau arbennig ar y ddau awdurdod hyn yn adlewyrchu’n ddamniol arnynt. 

Er gwaethaf y gwahaniaethau o ran eu cyd\-destunau demograffig a’r heriau y mae’r ddau awdurdod yn eu hwynebu bernir bod perfformiad presennol y ddau yn anfoddhaol ac nid yw eu rhagolygon ar gyfer gwella yn foddhaol ychwaith.

Dyma drosolwg cryno o’r ddau adroddiad.   

Bernir bod gwasanaethau addysg awdurdod Sir Fynwy yn anfoddhaol oherwydd bod eu perfformiad o’u cymharu ag ysgolion tebyg, ar sail yr hawl i brydau ysgol am ddim, gryn dipyn yn is na’r cyfartaledd ac mae’r cynnydd rhwng yr ysgolion cynradd a’r ysgolion uwchradd hefyd gryn dipyn yn is na’r cyfartaledd. Mae cyfanswm nifer y dyddiau a gaiff eu colli yn sgil gwaharddiadau am gyfnodau penodol hefyd yn rhy uchel. Daeth y tîm arolygu i’r casgliad nad yw trefniadau’r awdurdod ar gyfer cefnogi ysgolion a’u herio yn ddigon cadarn ac nid ydynt wedi sicrhau digon o effaith. Mae eu gwaith cynllunio strategol ar gyfer anghenion dysgu ychwanegol yn wan. Mae’r ffaith nad yw trefniadau’r awdurdod ar gyfer diogelu yn bodloni’r gofynion hefyd yn gryn destun pryder. 

Barnodd Estyn hefyd fod rhagolygon Sir Fynwy ar gyfer gwella yn anfoddhaol. Y rheswm am hyn oedd fod diffyg capasiti strategol a chapasiti gweithredol o fewn y Gyfarwyddiaeth Plant a Phobl Ifanc. Yn ddiamau mae hyn wedi cyfrannu at y methiant i wella mewn meysydd allweddol. Daeth y tîm arolygu i’r casgliad hefyd nad yw’r aelodau etholedig yn derbyn yr wybodaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt i ddwyn swyddogion i gyfrif yn llawn. Canfu’r tîm arolygu nad yw’r prosesau hunanwerthuso yn ddigon trylwyr ac nad yw trefniadau cynllunio corfforaethol y gyfarwyddiaeth yn effeithiol. Yn ogystal, barnwyd nad yw swyddogion yn defnyddio prosesau sicrhau ansawdd nac yn gwerthuso data yn ddigon cyson i wybod sut y dylid gwneud y defnydd gorau o adnoddau a gwasanaethau er mwyn cyflawni’r canlyniadau gorau ar gyfer y dysgwyr. Nid yw prosesau rheoli perfformiad yn cael eu gweithredu’n gyson o fewn y gyfarwyddiaeth ac nid yw arweinwyr a rheolwyr bob amser mewn sefyllfa i gyfarwyddo staff neu eu dwyn i gyfrif yn ddigon da.   

O safbwynt Merthyr, mae perfformiad yr awdurdod lleol yn anfoddhaol ym mhob cyfnod allweddol, ac mae’r safonau ar gyfer dysgwyr yn anfoddhaol. Yn ogystal, mae’r cyfraddau gwahardd yn rhy uchel, mae llawer gormod o bobl ifanc nad ydynt mewn addysg, cyflogaeth na hyfforddiant, ac mae’r cyfraddau presenoldeb yn yr ysgolion cynradd yn annerbyniol o isel. Mae’r cymorth ar gyfer gwella ysgolion ac ar gyfer hybu cynhwysiant cymdeithasol a lles yn anfoddhaol; ac ni chaiff effaith gwasanaethau ieuenctid ei gwerthuso er mwyn sicrhau bod y ddarpariaeth yn bodloni’r angen. Ar y cyfan, mae methiant arweinwyr i weithredu’r systemau ar gyfer pennu cryfderau a gwendidau mewn ysgolion wedi arwain at ddiffyg her ac at ddiffyg gwelliannau mewn safonau.   

Hefyd barnodd Estyn fod rhagolygon Merthyr Tudful ar gyfer gwella yn anfoddhaol. Nid yw uwch swyddogion ac aelodau etholedig y cyngor wedi herio tanberfformiad neu ddeilliannau gwael i ddysgwyr. Nid yw swyddogion wedi rhoi adroddiadau i aelodau sy’n dadansoddi data am berfformiad yn ddigon da i nodi cynnydd a meysydd allweddol ar gyfer gwella. Canfu tîm yr arolygiad nad oes gan yr awdurdod lleol broses hunanwerthuso gadarn a pharhaus ar gyfer ei wasanaethau addysg. Nid yw ychwaith wedi ymateb yn ddigon da i argymhellion arolygiadau blaenorol, gan gynnwys rhai sy’n dyddio’n ôl i 2004\. Daeth tîm yr arolygiad i’r casgliad nad oes gan yr awdurdod systemau effeithiol i farnu a yw mentrau a gwasanaethau yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar blant a phobl ifanc neu’n cynnig gwerth da am arian.

Rwy’n mawr bryderu o weld canfyddiadau ac argymhellion y ddau adroddiad hyn gan Estyn. Mae’r ddau awdurdod mewn sefyllfa ddifrifol ac mae’n gwbl amlwg bod angen cymryd camau ar frys i newid y sefyllfa hon.

Rwyf eisoes wedi siarad ag Arweinyddion Merthyr a Sir Fynwy.

Rwy’n bwriadu ymyrryd yn y ddau awdurdod i sefydlu’r trefniadau a’r cymorth gofynnol i sicrhau gwelliant cyn gynted â phosibl. Mae amryw opsiynau ar gael i mi. Rwy’n ystyried sefydlu byrddau adfer annibynnol i oruchwylio’r gwelliannau sydd eu hangen, monitro’r cynnydd a wneir, a chynnig atebolrwydd. Un opsiwn arall rwy’n ei ystyried yw trosglwyddo rhai neu bob un o’r swyddogaethau gweithredol mewn perthynas â gwasanaethau addysg i gorff arall. 

Byddaf yn rhoi gwybodaeth bellach i’r Aelodau yn amlinellu penderfyniadau a chamau i’w cymryd dros yr wythnosau nesaf.