R1 Ensure that school improvement services address the performance of schools causing concern, particularly in the secondary sector. Common consistent template for schools causing concern Clear consistent plans for each school causing concern and intranet system updated regularly. Every half term updated; maintain accurate uploading of support visits. Regular reports on quality and compliance to Exec Board Capacity building resources allocated according to guidance set. Close monitoring by ChAd and support from central team Quality assurance and performance management and CPD arrangements take full account of secondary schools causing concern Guidance and training on HR to schools target all LAs, with emphasis on targeting advisers, HTs and GBs in schools causing concern Categorisation support menus to schools are delivered fully to schedule in line with agreed categorisation and ERW guidance. September 1st September 9th (Directors 26th September) October 21st December 2nd 3rd Feb 7th April ongoing from Autumn 2016 from October 2016 – June 2017 catch up delivered before half term October. 2016-17 menu of support to be adhered to. ME, HMR HMR, ME, AM AT BOC, school ChAd and JB HMR, AM, ME LS to liase with LA lead ChAds HMR, ME, AM Barry (interim)
Development of ERW for high intensity work/ high risk work. All directors to share use of stat powers. As Required. Directors Aled Evans/ BR LH, RS, AE, BR, KEH, IR R2 Ensure that planning for education improvement clearly integrates local and regional priorities, so that ERW and local authority plans are complementary and contain actions that are specific and measurable, with appropriate milestones for delivery. Confirm all LA level 2 and 3 plans conform to agreed high expectations and common format Day workshop for all Directors Define clear operational targets for regional and LA expectations at key statutory aspects - all by first ever meeting of Jan 2017. Develop improvement dashboard for improvement measures through Rhwyd to capture improvement in core work. Combine modelled actual school targets Comply fully with all reporting requirements within the ERW Business Planning cycle By January 2017 and 1st executive board of every cal year October 2016 October 2016 October 2016 BR, KEH, LH, AE, RS, IR BR, KEH, LH, AE, RS, IR AT BOC, BR, KEH, LH, AE, RS, IR Ian
Strengthen the medium term financial planning within the constraints of grants from WG often slow Internal audit review to look at changes to new planning arrangements 2017- 2020 and costings As outlined in BP arrangements Quarterly Report by March 2017 AE, BOC, JH BOC R3 Ensure that the work of the main boards and working groups is recorded carefully and consistently, so that concerns, decisions and actions are clear, auditable, fully costed and enable leaders to monitor progress. Training for all staff taking minutes Correspondence and expectation set out for all Chairs Strengthen further the guidance given to all groups and chairs Manage strategically the creation/ ending and focus of groups October 2016 September 2016 October 2016 Ongoing and quarterly RL BOC RL GM, KEH, BR, BOC Kate Evan Hughes R4 Refine the framework for assessing value for money so that all relevant costs across the six authorities are taken into account fully when set against outcomes Develop a forward work plan for value for money items to be evaluated regularly Quantify the value of key work undertaken in kind to support further collaboration Internal audit review to look at success of ‘support’ to schools and its impact on resources and value for money. Executive Board October 21st Executive Board January 2017 Report by March 2017 BOC BOC, ERW Finance officer Gareth Morgans
Howevers No Issue Actions + date Responsible H1 Challenge advisers are too generous in their judgements about schools and miss important areas for improvement in the school. Comply with national guidance ofr Challenge Advisers, categorisation and Ladder of support HMR, ME, AM, AT BOC H3 Work with PRUs is less effective Consistently adhere to Ladder of support and agreed link ChAd to each provision Additional guidance and developments days for ChAds Review of improvements made and impact of work undertaken October 2016 January 2017 May 2017 HMR, ME, AM, AT ME JB BOC H4 ERW’s evaluation of the impact of funding on learners’ standards is limited. Continue with the evaluations of impact on all programmes including school to school work Continue with Annual Impact Report ( slightly earlier timescale this year) Internal Audit Review of support programmes post categorisation May 2016 December 2016 March 2017 JB BOC BOC AE H5 Communication between LAs and region Each Director will receive a full briefing pack for reference. Additional training and sessions held for directors on online systems September 23rd On request BOC AT AE
H6 The quality of individual strategy documents varies too widely. A refresh of strategy documents T&L – AE Leadership – new appointee Support – AT Poverty – CM SCS - IR All by December 15th 2016 AE H7 Local authority portfolio holders do not have a clear enough input to the management or oversight of the work of ERW despite their key responsibility in their local authority for the oversight of education services. Agreed changes to HUB QA Added to all communications lists, and written to outline arrangements and dates HMR, AM, ME RL September 2016 BOC H8 Evaluations lack sufficient detail about the performance of groups of pupils, including vulnerable pupils, at a regional level. Central team and leads to identify annually the focus of their evaluations to feed formally and inform the ERW self evaluation report Building on 2016 , to develop an annual review for the region’s progress towards a self improving system May 2017 All central team Joan Bessant BOC