4. What discussions has the Cabinet Secretary had with Estyn about the next inspection round? OAQ(5)0093(EDU)

Estyn are wholly responsible for planning their inspection work. The inspectorate is introducing changes to inspection arrangements for schools and other providers from September 2017 to help drive improvement and support innovation. The inspectorate is also currently developing new inspection arrangements for local authority education services.

Thank you, Minister. The most recent annual report by the chief inspector of schools showed there was far too much variation in standards of teaching, learning and leadership in schools across Wales. Given that, is the Minister concerned that Estyn is not planning or inspecting local education authorities in the next inspection round? Instead, it plans to focus on the regional consortia.

It’s important to recognise, were that to be true, it may be that people would have some concerns, but let me say this: Estyn are continuing to meet with local authorities, local education authorities, to continue to have discussions with them about the sort of the support that they require; the improvement conferences that have taken place across Wales at the moment are designed to look again at the way in which we inspect local education authorities; and it isn’t true to say that there will be no relationship between Estyn and local education authorities for the period of time to which the Member refers. And it’s important therefore not to draw too many, too great a conclusion from that particular statement. There will continue to be a relationship between Estyn and particular education authorities where that support is required, and there will continue to be meetings between Estyn and local education authorities throughout this period.

Minister, the latest Estyn report also highlights the fact that inspection outcomes for special schools aren’t as positive as previous years, and the results for pupil referral units continue to be poor. In light of this, what specific steps is the Welsh Government taking to improve outcomes in special schools and in pupil referral units specifically?

I hope that the support required by special schools will be offered by the consortia and others where that is necessary. I understand and accept the point made by the Member, and I think that the system of review that we have at the moment—the inspection system, rather—is a very robust one, and because of that we understand the situation that some special schools will face, and the schools will receive the support that they need to improve.