The Performance Scrutiny Committee - People is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 30 September 2025 to discuss the Estyn Outcomes Report, and the Scrutiny Advisor's report, which includes updates on actions, the forward work programme, and outcomes monitoring.

Estyn Outcomes Report

The committee is scheduled to discuss the annual report on the outcomes of school inspections conducted by Estyn¹. Sarah Morgan, Chief Education Officer, Sarah Davies, Deputy Chief Education Officer, and Rhys Cornwall, Head of Education are expected to be in attendance for this item.

The report covers inspections and follow-up activities in Newport schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) between May 2022 and July 2025. The committee will be asked to consider the report's recommendations and comments, question officers and the Cabinet Member about action and improvement plans, and determine if it wishes to make any comments and recommendations to the Cabinet Member. Councillor Deborah Davies is the Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years.

The report includes information from September 2024 to July 2025, and notes that the new inspection framework which commenced on 1 September 2024 will continue until July 2030. The new framework contains many of the same features as the Inspection Framework launched in September 2022, with some subtle changes, which reflect the changes in the educational landscape in Wales, and the commitment to a self-improving system.

The report states that the new inspection framework now has three inspection areas, which all have equal importance:

• Teaching and Learning
• Well-being, care, support and guidance
• Leading and improving

The report notes that interim visits have been introduced in the new framework, and that schools and PRUs will normally have a core inspection and an interim visit, within a 6-year period.

The report also includes tables summarising the recommendations for each Newport school inspected, and compares the Newport profile across the region and Wales.

According to the report, key themes that emerge include:

• Teaching and Teacher's Feedback
• Evaluation / Self-Evaluation
• Welsh
• Independent Learning
• Digital Skills
• Pupil Attendance

The committee may wish to consider:

• How robust are learners' standards in Newport's schools?
• How well do learners develop their skills in literacy, numeracy, and digital competence and are there any improvements to be made?
• How effective are the local authority's arrangements in supporting school improvement?
• Are there any barriers to improving performance in schools?
• How quickly do outcomes improve in schools requiring follow-up after an inspection?
• How does the local authority inspection outcomes compare to that of similar local authorities and nationally?

Scrutiny Advisor Report

Samantha Herritty, Scrutiny Adviser, is scheduled to present the Scrutiny Adviser Report, which includes updates on actions from previous meetings, the committee's forward work programme, and outcomes monitoring.

The committee will be asked to note the responses for the actions, determine if any further information or action is required, and agree to receive an update on outstanding issues at the next meeting. They will also be asked to consider any amendments to the topics scheduled to be considered at the next committee meeting, whether there are any additional invitees required, and if there is any additional information that the committee would like to request.

The report includes a draft forward work programme for the year 2025-26, and an outcomes monitoring table.

The Wellbeing of Future Generation (Wales) Act is scheduled to be considered within this report. The committee should consider the 5 Ways of Working² and how they have been considered within this report.

(1) Long term: The importance of balancing short-term needs with the need to safeguard the ability to also meet long-term needs. (2) Prevention: How acting to prevent problems occurring or getting worse may help public bodies meet their objectives. (3) Integration: Considering how the public body’s well-being objectives may impact upon each other, or upon the objectives of other public bodies. (4) Collaboration: Acting in collaboration with any other person (or body) that could help the public body to meet its well-being objectives. (5) Involvement: The importance of involving people with an interest in achieving the well-being goals, and ensuring that those people reflect the diversity of the area which the body serves.