Performance Scrutiny Committee - People

The Performance Scrutiny Committee (People), the councillors who check council services, considered Newport's Key Stage 4 results for 2025. Key Stage 4 covers the last years of secondary school, when pupils usually sit GCSEs. The Committee recommended clearer presentation of the data for the public and receiving future reports as a seminar or workshop.

1. Key Stage 4 (GCSE) outcomes for 2025

   Decided

   The Committee recommended that the presentation and explanation of the data be improved where possible, so that it is easier for the public to understand. It also recommended that future reports on this subject be received in a seminar or workshop format rather than as a formal report.

   Why

   The report gives final 2025 data for Newport's secondary schools; national results are slightly higher than in 2024, lower than in 2023 and broadly similar to 2019. The report says the data raises questions rather than giving firm answers, and that earlier years used different methods, so they cannot be compared directly. The minute does not give reasons for the recommendations.

   Based on the minutes, Item 4 - CR - KS4, Item 4.1 - KS4 Outcomes Report 2025

2. Scrutiny adviser update: actions, work programme and outcomes

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   The minute says the April 2026 meeting has been cancelled because there were not enough items. Members were told that one action is outstanding and has been chased and escalated, and that one outcomes monitoring item (checking how the council responded to the committee's recommendations) is outstanding while a second has been accepted. The draft work programme for 2026/27 has been shared with members.

   Based on the minutes, Item 6 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 6.1 - Actions, Item 6.2 - FWP, Item 6.3 - Outcomes

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 17 February 2026 were approved as a true and accurate record.

   Papers: Minutes Public Pack, 17/02/2026 Performance Scrutiny Committee - People
3. 4

   Key Stage 4 Outcomes Report 2025

   Minute

   The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Education and Early Years and the Head of Education. The Committee questioned officers and discussed the content of the report. To access a full recording of the comments made please refer to the Council’s YouTube channel. Recommendations: • The Committee recommended improving the presentation and explanation of the data where possible to make it more accessible to the general public. • The Committee recommended receiving the report in a seminar/workshop format in future, rather than as a formal report.

   Papers: Item 4 - CR - KS4, Item 4.1 - KS4 Outcomes Report 2025
4. 5

   Scrutiny Adviser Reports

   Minute

   • Actions Arising The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that there is one outstanding action which had been chased and escalated. • Forward Work Programme Update The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that the next meeting in April had been cancelled due to a lack of items. They added that the draft Forward Work Programme for 2026/27 has been shared with the Committee. • Outcomes Monitoring The Scrutiny Adviser informed the Committee that there is a one outstanding and advised that the second outcome has been accepted.

   Papers: Item 6 - Scrutiny Advisor Report, Item 6.1 - Actions, Item 6.2 - FWP, Item 6.3 - Outcomes
5. 6

   Meeting recording

   Minute

   Please click here watch the recording.

   Part of an issue followed across 17 meetings

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
• Deb Davies, Committee MemberLabourIn attendance
• Debbie Harvey, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Debbie Jenkins, Committee MemberLabourSent apologies
• Janet Cleverly, Committee MemberNewport Independent PartyPresent
• John Reynolds, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Stephen Marshall, Committee MemberLabourPresent
• Trevor Watkins, Committee MemberLabourPresent

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