Conwy Governors Forum 26/04/18 – 6.00-8.00 – Ysgol Aberconwy School Hall Education Services

Present:

Governing Body Representative(s) Babanod Llanfairfechan Claire Hodgkinson / Sandra Cunningham Capel - Coed - Elan Rhodri Dafydd / Nia Jones-Artell Bod Alaw Nia Kirkham Bro Cernyw Rhiannon Owen / Meinir Roberts / Eirian Morris Bro Gwydir Delyth Davies Eirlys Edwards Craig Y Don Frank Bradfield Cynfran Celia Peter Cystennin - Mochdre Hayley Pond Eglwysbach Einir Jones Glan Eifiona Price-Williams Glanwydden Dafydd Williams Hen Golwyn Cllr Bob Barton Llandrillo Yn Rhos Des Jones Llanfair Talhaiarn Julie Elliott Llangelynnin Mr Haydn Oliver / Ian Brown Nant Y Groes Deborah Morley Pant-Y-Rhedyn Cllr Andrew Hinchliff Pen Y Bryn Dr Wendy Kitson Pentrefoelas Paul Williams Porth y Felin Liz Hughes St Elfod Brian Churchill St Josephs Dr Michelle Romachney Ysbyty Ifan Meilir Jones Ysgol Aberconwy Terry James / Wendy Howard / Pat Hart Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy Huw Roberts Ysgol John Bright Carla Forfar Ysgol Uwchradd Eirias Howard Ferdinando

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1 Ysgol Y Gogarth Dave Rowley Education Services Lowri Brown Education Services Aaron Evans Education Services Andrew Nixon Education Services Natasha Jones Education Services Iola Wyn-Jones Education Services Richard Evans Education Services Sioned Kearns Education Services Delyth Wynne (Minutes) Education Services Glain Jones (Translation)

Apologies:

Governing Body Representative(s) Awel y Mynydd No attendance Betws Yn Rhos No attendance Blessed William Davies No attendance Bodafon No attendance Bro Aled No attendance Capelulo No attendance Deganwy No attendance No attendance Ffordd Dyffryn No attendance Glan Gele No attendance Glan Morfa No attendance Llanddoged No attendance Llanddulas No attendance Llannefydd No attendance Maes Owen No attendance Morfa Rhianedd No attendance Pencae No attendance Penmachno No attendance San Sior No attendance

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2 St George No attendance Swn y Don No attendance T. Gwynn Jones No attendance Tal-Y-Bont No attendance Tudno No attendance Y Foryd No attendance

1. Welcome: Dr Lowri Brown

2. Update on Welsh Government consultation on proposed changes to school governance regulations (Aaron Evans)

An update was given about the proposed changes to school governance regulations. There were some concerns about the consultation and the lack of information from WG. There will be a Governor Support Officer meeting in May, but there won’t be an opportunity to respond to the regulations when they are released (likely in December).

Questions raised:

a. Huw Roberts (Dyffryn Conwy) – will there be another opportunity to comment on the new regulations as the original consultation survey/questions was quite complicated? Dr Lowri Brown, LA – unfortunately not, but as the intention is for the Association to meet more regularly, we hope to able to guide you through these changes.

Actions: Conwy’s reponse to WG consultation to be uploaded to HwB

3. Feedback from Governor responses regarding attendance at training courses (Aaron Evans)

Feedback from the recent consultation was shared, along with proposals for 2018-19.

The following suggestions were also made: a. Cllr Bob Barton (Hen Golwyn) – do some excercises with the school following the course to put training into practical use; b. Huw Roberts (Dyffryn Conwy) – Training more relevant to the school cluster and clear expectations about who should be attending what. New governors could be mentored by experienced mentors; c. Delyth Davies (Bro Gwydir) – courses every three years; d. Terry James (Aberconwy) – greater emphasis on pupil welfare in school;

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3 The LA is looking at developing courses on the HWB platfform. A regular annual cycle of training helps ensure no governor would “miss” an opportunity, whilst also ensuring governing boards are supported by providing mandatory coruses for new governors/clerks/chairs. Wellbeing courses are also run every year to provide support to governors that schools are safe, productive, robust and with safeguarding frameworks in place. We hope to be better able to directly communicate to school governors about Training for 2018-19.

Questions raised:

e. Liz Hughes, Porth y Felin – will tonight’s slides be available. Aaron Evans, LA – yes will be sent out via e-mail and put on the Education website.

4. HWB – supporting Conwy Governors (Natasha Jones):

The LA presented its Governor Overview document and outlined future provision on HWB and the School Governance Toolkit.

Questions raised:

a. Cllr Bob Barton (Hen Golwyn) – Is the intention for all governors to have a HWB email address? Can’t see governors setting up a separate address. Natasha Jones (LA) – yes it is the intention. Dr Lowri Brown (LA) – we have a statutory obligation to comply with GDPR requirements and we are trying to make sure that schools are doing the same – trying to make it easier for you. This is the platfform we will be using. b. Wendy Kitson (Pen y Bryn) – what’s the difference between HWB and HWB Plus? Natasha Jones (LA) – HWB Plus has ceased but HWB will continue. Pupils will need to have HWB accounts also. Some schools also use goggle, but schools are moving towards HWB accounts and have access to a variety of tools. c. Huw Roberts (Dyffryn Conwy) – Is there any partnership working with GwE? Natasha Jones (LA) – The School Management Review toolkit fits into the Regional tool. Link on the tool that links to Conwy intranet. d. Delyth Davies, Bro Gwydir – Will this be in the Governors Handbook? Dr Lowri Brown (LA) – yes e. Michelle Romachney (St Joseph’s) – Is the SM Review toolkit going to be used by Estyn to grade schools? Dr Lowri Brown – no, for schools to gather information to self evaluate before Estyn arrive. Use to feed into the school’s self evaluation plan. f. Claire Hodgkinson, Babanod Llanfairfechan – will there be an area for online Training on HWB? Natasha Jones, LA – already available online at present – but might move to HWB. g. Cllr Bob Barton, Hen Golwyn – how would I get Office 365? Natasha Jones, LA – no licence costs, covered by WG.

5. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Andrew Nixon): Conwy Governors Association 24/04/18

4 The LA gave a presentation on work so far completed and outline of future support in terms of GDPR compliance for schools.

Please let Delyth Wynne - [email protected] if you have any comments on the privacy notice.

Claire Hodgkinson (Babanod Llanfairfechan) – will children understand the term (‘retention schedules’)?

Questions raised:

a. Paul Williams (Pentrefoelas) – Should we use ‘Bcc’ in emails? Andrew Nixon (LA) – yes use ‘Bcc’ to ensure private email addresses aren’t shared when a group of people are emailed b. Cllr Andrew Hinchliff (Pant y Rhedyn) – Are governors responsible for ensuring schools are GDPR compliant? Dr Lowri Brown, LA – the LA is fully accountable. We recognise that it is hard for schools and governors. We are going to recruit a central DP Officer to work with schools to look at this. Headteachers feel reassured. We will use a central contingency for 2018/19. c. Wendy Kitson (Pen y Bryn) – Concern was expressed about the funding aspect of this post. d. Huw Roberts (Dyffryn Conwy) – we need to accept the advice and appreciate the Support from the LA Dr Lowri Brown, ALl – both schools and the authority have a statutory role in this. e. Michelle Romachney (St Jospeph’s) – Can PTAs and other such groups tap into LA support for GDPR? Dr Lowri Brown, LA – the school will receive the Support, and it will be up to the Headteacher and governors to decide which parts of the school needs the support. f. Paul Williams (Pentrefoelas) – can you re-assure that this sits with you? Dr Lowri Brown, LA – we are taking this on centrally on your behalf. g. Meinir Roberts (Bro Cernyw) – fydd y Pennaeth yn Reolwr? Dr Lowri Brown, LA – Data Protection line managed centrally. Dull yma yn dangos cysondeb ar draws yr Awdurdod. I see that the person will be very busy the first year, but as after the first year there will be less demand.

6. Governor Association (Aaron Evans)

The LA presented its views on the way forward with the Governors Association.

Questions raised:

a. Liz Hughes (Porth y Felin) – how are you going to encourage more governors to be involved? Dr Lowri Brown – the aim of this is to reconise that you are volunteers. As a forum to share with you key issues and developments within schools and how we can support you. This is not just our role to get people to attend, it is a joint role.

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5 b. Cllr Bob Barton, Hen Golwyn – can the review date be at the end of term be revised? Aaron Evans (LA) – yes, we’ll look at reviewing the date c. Dave Rowley, Y Gogarth – it is more work for governors. We have rejected an association before. What is different now?

Dr Lowri Brown, LA – we want to work together with governing bodies, share messages and actively engage with them Some delegates also responded that they felt an association could act as a pressure group to answer difficult questions of the LA and get the WG to listen, especially at a time when there is now no Governors Wales. Others welcomed the opportunity to work in partnership with the LA. This would help governors know what is going on in each school – governors can feel lonely so it is important to have a netowrk between schools. Without Governors Wales, school governing boards will need more support.

d. Cllr Bob Barton (Hen Golwyn) – Is the Association a talking shop or a forum to share ideas? Aaron Evans (LA) – Association/Forum would help frame Training and Development programme etc. e. Dave Rowley (Y Gogarth) – I would propose that LA asks all governing bodies to see if they want a Group as is proposed? f. Dafydd Williams (Glanwydden) – Suggested question be asked and, if supportive, do they also support the proposed constitution. Dr Lowri Brown, LA – all thoes who want to be part of a wider group in Conwy can be part of one. g. Claire Hodgkinson (Babanod Llanfairfechan) – can all sorts of governors attend this forum? Dr Lowri Brown, LA – yes. Up to the school governors to decide who to represent them. h. Delyth Davies (Bro Gwydir) – what about a forum for each cluster, with each sending a nominee to the Conwy forum? Aaron Evans (LA) – this is something which could be consdiered

7. Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) (Sioned Kearns)

The LA presented the implication of the WESP on schools in Conwy.

Views were expressed about how Estyn communicated with staff, promoting multilingualism and support for parents (particularly how to identify those who need support)

Sioned Kearns (LA) – Siarter Iaith, Cymraeg Campus etc will bring parents along. We have to look at how we teach Welsh and bring parents and communities together in a different way. Getting pupils and staff along. Share good practice.

Questions raised:

Huw Roberts, Dyffryn Conwy – do you see governors as stakeholders in supporting greater collaborative working e.g. between Creuddyn and Dyffyn Conwy in the same way as Menter Iaith Works between a Llandudno? Sioned Kearns (LA) – yes.

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6 8. Health and Safety (Richard Evans/Iola Wyn-Jones)

The LA presented on Health and Safety in schools and gave suggestions for the governors to take back to their schools.

No questions raised.

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