School Improvement Partnership Programme Board meeting: 18 March 2025

The School Improvement Partnership Programme Board met on 18 March.

The Programme team was able to report to Board members that the key programme milestones identified for delivery by the end of 2024 had been met. This progress in developing a new approach to school improvement for Wales, together with the shared commitment of partners to the success of the programme was recognised by the Cabinet Secretary for Education in a Written Statement issued on 29 January.

Phase 3 of the Programme is now underway and will see the transition from existing to new school improvement arrangement by Autumn 2025. Board members were provided with an update of activity underway to establish the new Professional Learning and Leadership support body over the summer and for it to be operationally ready for 1 September. There was also an update on the series of workshops that have been held between the new Education Improvement Team and local authorities and their school leaders during the first quarter of this year to help support delivery of the local school improvement arrangements set out in local authority plans submitted to WG in November 2024. All local authorities have moved their planning forward from November into a more dynamic and emerging place.

A helpful discussion on the Programme risk register acknowledged the role of partners in contributing to actions which will help the manage and mitigate identified risks. This discussion re-emphasised the clear and important need for good, effective Programme communications and it was agreed that communications would be a standing agenda item for future Board meetings. The Board recognised the ongoing work required to operationally transition to the new arrangements at all levels, and the progress to date.