Performance Scrutiny Committee - People

The Performance Scrutiny Committee - People considered reports on pupil attendance and school exclusions in Newport schools for 2024-25. For both items, the minute records that the Committee was content with the report. It asked for safer travel to schools to be considered for its 2026-27 work programme, and asked to see the council's harmful behaviour guidance.

1. Pupil attendance in schools

   Decided

   The Committee was content with the report. It asked for safer travel to schools to be considered when it plans its work for 2026-27 (its forward work programme).

   Why

   The report gives attendance for September 2024 to July 2025. In 2024-25, Newport primary attendance was 92.9% against 92.7% for Wales, and secondary attendance was 89.3% against 89.1%. The Education Welfare Service, which supports schools on attendance, has 11.5 full-time equivalent officers and had over 2,000 open cases in 2024-25.

   Based on the minutes, Item 4 - PA CR, Item 4.1 - Scrutiny Report Attendance February 2026

2. Pupil exclusions from school

   Decided

   The Committee was content with the report. It asked to see the council's harmful behaviour guidance.

   Why

   Welsh Government publishes exclusion figures a year late, so the latest national data covers 2023-24. In 2023-24, Newport's rate of short fixed-term exclusions (time out of school for five days or fewer) was 28.3 per 1,000 pupils, below the Wales rate of 30.4. Secondary permanent exclusions rose to 26 in 2024-25, and the report says one school's exceptional incident, which led to six of them, was a contextual factor.

   Based on the minutes, Item 5 - PE CR, Item 5.1 - NCC Scrutiny Report Exclusions Feb 2026

Written by AI from the council's minutes and reports. Sentences with a number or name that can't be found in those papers are removed automatically, but mistakes are still possible. Councils publish no word-for-word record of meetings, so this says what was decided and why. Read the official papers to be sure.

1. 2

   Declarations of Interest

   Minute

   None.

2. 3

   Minutes of Previous Meeting

   Minute

   The minutes of the previous meeting held 21st January 2026 were approved as a true and accurate record.

   Papers: PSC People Draft Minutes 21.01.26
3. 4

   Pupil Attendance in Schools Report

   Minute

   The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Education and the Education Welfare Service Manager. The committee questioned officers and discussed the content of the report. For a full record of the committees’ questions and comments view the recording on YouTube. Comments and recommendations • The Committee requested that the topic of safer travel to schools be considered when forward work programming for 2026-27 begins. • The Committee were content with the report.

   Papers: Item 4 - PA CR, Item 4.1 - Scrutiny Report Attendance February 2026
4. 5

   Pupil Exclusions Report

   Minute

   The report was presented by the Head of Education. The committee questioned officers and discussed the content of the report. For a full record of the committees’ questions and comments view the recording on YouTube. Comments and recommendations • The Committee requested sight of the harmful behaviour guidance. • The Committee were content with the report

   Papers: Item 5 - PE CR, Item 5.1 - NCC Scrutiny Report Exclusions Feb 2026
5. 6

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   a) Actions arising The Scrutiny Adviser noted that actions were largely ongoing and outstanding actions had been chased. b) Forward Work Programme The Committee were informed that the next meeting will be held on the 17th of March. c) Outcomes monitoring The Scrutiny Adviser noted that outstanding outcomes had been chased.

   Papers: Item 6 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 6.2 - FWP, Item 6.1 - Actions, Item 6.3 - Outcomes

Councillors must say when they have a personal link to something being discussed, such as a job, a property or a family member. A prejudicial interest is one strong enough that the councillor usually leaves the room and takes no part.

The minutes record no declarations of interest.

• William Routley, ChairConservativePresent
• Bev Davies, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Carmel Townsend, Committee MemberLiberal DemocratPresent
• Claire Baker-Westhead, Committee MemberLabourAbsent
• Debbie Harvey, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Debbie Jenkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Janet Cleverly, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• John Reynolds, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Stephen Marshall, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Trevor Watkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent

Lists the council's current councillors only. Co-opted members, officers and former councillors aren't shown.