Modernising Education Programme Draft Strategy

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Strategic Alignment (The Golden Thread)

As already noted the development of the MEP is underpinned by the principle of a holistic approach and the requirement to enhance and support a range of national, corporate and educational objectives. The development of the MEP is aligned to key national and local documents and policies as outlined below:

National

  • Cymraeg 2050
  • Curriculum for Wales
  • Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018
  • The Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales 2021
  • The Equality Act 2010
  • Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

Local

  • Corporate Strategy 2022-2027
  • Cabinet’s Vision 2022-2027
  • Education Sir Gar 2022-2032
  • Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) 2022-2032
  • NZC/Climate Emergency
  • Medium Term Financial Plan

The MEP features prominently in the Council’s Corporate Strategy 2022-2027 which sets out the direction for the Local Authority over a five year period, incorporating our improvement and well-being objectives as defined by legislation:

Well-being Objective 1- Enabling our children and young people to have the best possible start in life (Start Well)

The future direction of Education Services will focus on supporting learners to become:

  • Ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives.
  • Enterprising, creative contributors, ready to provide a full part in life & work.
  • Healthy and confident individuals, ready to learn fulfilling lives as valued members of society.
  • Ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world

The MEP has a significant role to play in the Cabinet Vision Statement 2022-2027.

The Cabinet’s Vision for Education outlines a range of commitments that they will work towards achieving during the course of this administration. These commitments include:

  • Continue investment in school buildings across the county and overhaul Carmarthenshire’s Sustainable Communities for Learning Program to meet the needs of the 21st century. Ensuring that all new schools meet the required standards of insulation and ventilation to cut energy bills and be more environmentally friendly.
  • Look to improve the availability of early years education and childcare settings across the county, particularly in rural areas; with a particular focus on providing and strengthening Welsh-medium childcare in all areas.
  • Continue to ensure that pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) are fully supported to meet their potential in line with ALN Reform.
  • Work alongside schools to increase school attendance rates and improve access to education for vulnerable pupils.
  • Increase the utilisation of school facilities for community use outside of teaching hours.
  • Work with schools to deliver a full and rounded curriculum which aspires to raise educational standards and ensures that pupils understand and celebrate their local history, geography, and culture.
  • In line with the vision of Welsh Government, provide high quality nutritious free school meals to all primary school pupils, over the lifetime of the administration.
  • Support the provision of opportunities for residents in the county to engage in essential learning in literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, in line with current Welsh Government funding. Enabling post 16 learners to upskill for employment and progression, as well as lifelong learning and community benefits and offer learners’ high quality 21st century learning environments.
  • Ensure that the standard of learning and teaching in our schools is of a high quality to support our learners to make appropriate progress.
  • In line with the Welsh Government’s programme, increase the availability of bilingual and Welsh medium education in our schools, following thorough consultation with parents, school governing bodies, learners, and the local community.
  • Work with Welsh Government to consider the effectiveness of anti-COVID ventilation devices in schools.

To complement the Cabinet’s Vision, the Education and Children Department has developed a Vision and Collective Moral Purpose:

We will support all Carmarthenshire learners. We will ensure that they are happy, safe, are thriving, and are fulfilling their personal, social and learning potential. We will strive to become the best we can be and be highly regarded locally, whilst also earning national and international recognition."

Moral Purpose
Making sure every learner is valued and valued equally.

In Carmarthenshire we strive to provide our learners with the best possible education experience. The Education Sir Gar 2022-2032 strategy sets out a clear, shared vision for the role that education services play in the future development of vibrant communities and a prosperous economy in Carmarthenshire.

 

Our desired outcomes 2022-2032

We endeavour to develop the whole child/young person equipping them with the skills and knowledge they need for the next step in their learning or career pathway.

We are trying to achieve this at a time of increased demands on our resources and an increased focus on improving outcomes and attainment. Ultimately, we want to ensure that our learners are well educated, well informed and well qualified.

As a department we have clear priorities focused around four key themes, tied into Education in Wales: Our National Mission. We will achieve our desired outcomes by realising our 'purpose pieces' and the ideals of the new Curriculum for Wales.

Carmarthenshire Learners-

  • Ambitious, capable learners, ready to learn throughout their lives.
  • Healthy, confident individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as valued members of society.
  • Enterprising, creative contributors, ready to play a full part in life and work.
  • Ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world

Purpose Pieces

We will achieve our desired outcomes by realising our 'Purpose Pieces'.

Purpose pieces image

Purpose pieces

  1. We will give every child the best start in life, improving their early life experiences and ensuring they live healthy lifestyles. We will protect children and young people from harm and work to ensure their emotional and physical wellbeing.
  2. We will support all learners as we build on what they’ve learned and support and improve progress and achievement. We will ensure appropriate outcomes for all learners and all staff within the system.
  3. We will ensure our children and young people have the right skills to succeed in fulfilling their ambitions. We will further develop learners’ skills including creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, independence, resilience and perseverance.
  4. We will support our children and young people by addressing opportunity and achievement gaps.
  5. We will ensure all young people are in education, employment or training and are following productive learning and career pathways.
  6. We will develop an engaging curriculum that will support learners to realise their potential ensuring that they are ‘Well Educated, Well Informed and Well Qualified’ and enabling them to become effective global citizens.
  7. We will develop a 'local curriculum' reflecting Carmarthenshire's unique history, geography and culture.
  8. We will champion the Welsh language and pride in Carmarthenshire’s unique heritage and culture.
  9. We will ensure our learners develop an understanding and respect of diversity and equality.
  10. We will protect and restore the environment and change our lifestyles to protect the environment now and for the future ensuring our children and young people develop an appreciation of their community and environment.
  11. We will value the achievement of our learners and staff and celebrate their success.
  12. We will work as one team for the benefit of our children, young people and their families.
  13. We will support our children and young people by recruiting, developing, retaining and valuing the best leaders, teachers and support staff. We will respect all of our staff and commit to ensuring their well-being.
  14. We will ensure that learner voice is central to our decision making and that the rights of the child are promoted and fulfilled.
  15. We will offer high standards of bilingual education, increasingly in modern, viable and sustainable environments that are fully equipped for 21st century learning utilising technology to support teaching and learning and service improvement.
  16. We will develop as an effective and efficient learning organisation for the benefit of our children, young people and staff.
  17. We will engage with our learners in the design of our services and monitoring their success.
  18. We will further develop and strengthen partnership working with other departments and organisations.
  19. We will ensure that we know our services well and ensure continuous positive and sustained change and improvement.
  20. We will ensure that our services, whether provided directly or commissioned from others, will be equitable, inclusive, aspire to excellence and offer good value for money.

The aspirations of the Corporate Strategy 2022-2027, the Cabinet’s Vision 2022-2027, Education Sir Gar 2022-2032 and feedback from engagement with Carmarthenshire’s headteacher are summarised in the department's 8 Education Priorities for 2022-2025:

Inclusion and Engagement - Ensure a proactive, inclusive education system.

Teaching and Learning - Ensure excellent progress for all learners.

Safeguarding Children - Ensure all children and young people are happy, safe and thrive, overcoming poverty.

Wellbeing - Foster very good mental and physical health for all.

Leadership - Ensure that aspirational Leadership leads to excellent progress for all learners.

Sustainable Communities - Deliver high standards of education in increasingly modern and sustainable community focussed environments.

Welsh - Ensure successful bilingual and multilingual development for all.

Departmental Operations - Provide high quality support services that impact on the efficiency of the education system.

There is a Strategic Focus Group (SFG) for each of the priorities above to drive forward and deliver on each priority. SFGs are represented by Local Authority officers and Headteachers and provide important opportunities to strategically improve key issues for the education system based on local and national priorities.

The MEP sits within the Sustainable Communities SFG and supports the strategic direction to realise the Education Department’s priorities and specifically the aim to: Deliver high standards of education in increasingly modern and sustainable community focussed environments.