Schools and Learning Committee

The role of the Schools and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to review and scrutinise services delivered to improve outcomes for children, young people and adult learners and to support the raising of educational standards and outcomes.

The remit and scope of the Committee is as follows:

Educational outcomes at all stages, particularly at Key Stage 4
School performance, including support provided to schools
School categorisation
School support through regional working (i.e. ERW)
Individual schools (via a Schools scrutiny panel)
Inclusion services
Youth support and other community based services (including adult learning)
Post-16 learning, skills and training
Memorandum of understanding with Pembrokeshire College
Music service
Sports development
Children’s voice and participation
Financial arrangements relation to schools and learning
Safeguarding in education

The Committee has 13 members and four statutory co-optees and will meet at least five times per year. Details of Committee members and future meetings, along with the Committee work programme can be found via the links below.

Schools and Learning Committee Work Programme

Schools and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee

June 2025

Item: Memorandum of understanding for the delivery of Post-16 education In Pembrokeshire
Purpose: To annually review the effectiveness of the MOU for delivery of Post-16 education in Pembrokeshire prior to consideration by Council

Item: Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report
Purpose: To review the Annual Report for 2024-25

Item: Asymmetric schools
Purpose: An annual report covering the impact of the asymmetric week on attendance, pupil outcomes, overall school performance, regularly track attendance plans

Item: Reading Standards including for the Foundation phase
Purpose: To look at the falling standards in reading including the foundation stage. This will also look at numeracy and writing in the stage too

September 2025

Item: Section 175 Report
Purpose: The annual report

Item: Emergency lockdown policies and procedures
Purpose: A review of the Council’s current policy for school lockdowns

Item: Cost of supply teachers and retention rates
Purpose: An update on the current cost of supply teachers and retention rates. This will include the update from Welsh Government and difficulties with hiring Welsh language teachers

Item: Sustainable Communities for Learning update
Purpose: An update from the SCFL on the new school builds

November 2025

Item: Welsh language provision
Purpose: An update on Welsh Government Welsh Language Strategy and its progress in the county

Item: Crimes undertaken on school grounds
Purpose: A look at what crimes were undertaken on school premises and the impact/outcomes of them

Item: Review of the curriculum for Wales
Purpose: A look at how schools in Pembrokeshire were managing with the new curriculum

Item: Mental health and wellbeing in schools
Purpose: A report on what mental health and wellbeing measures were put in place for pupils and how pupils were faring in school

February 2026

Item: Mobile Phone Policy
Purpose: An update of the progresses of the Council’s mobile phone policy guidance

Item: Outline draft MTFP 26-27 to 29-30 (including alternative budget proposals)
Purpose: The MTFP proposals ahead of its approval by Full Council from a Schools OSC perspective

Item: Sports in Pembrokeshire schools
Purpose: Including grass roots sports in school

Item: Dual-stream schools
Purpose: A look at how Narberth C.P. School was managing as the last dual-stream school in Pembrokeshire