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| School problems could oust leader | School problems could oust leader |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A damning report into local education could cost its leader and her cabinet their jobs. | A damning report into local education could cost its leader and her cabinet their jobs. |
| Denbighshire Council is meeting later to debate a vote of no confidence in independent Councillor Rhiannon Hughes and her team. | |
| Ms Hughes says she wants to sort out many of the problems highlighted by education inspector Estyn's report. | Ms Hughes says she wants to sort out many of the problems highlighted by education inspector Estyn's report. |
| But political opponents claim that she is to blame for the poor state of education in the county. | But political opponents claim that she is to blame for the poor state of education in the county. |
| On Thursday, the council, which is run by a coalition of Independents and Conservatives, received a notice of motion signed by 13 members expressing a vote of no confidence in Ms Hughes and her cabinet. It is the second such motion within a year. | On Thursday, the council, which is run by a coalition of Independents and Conservatives, received a notice of motion signed by 13 members expressing a vote of no confidence in Ms Hughes and her cabinet. It is the second such motion within a year. |
| Ms Hughes survived the previous vote against her, but she has now lost the support of her coalition partners after the Conservatives joined with Labour and Plaid Cymru. | Ms Hughes survived the previous vote against her, but she has now lost the support of her coalition partners after the Conservatives joined with Labour and Plaid Cymru. |
| I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones | I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door Vale of Clwyd AM Ann Jones |
| She said she would accept whatever decision was made at Monday's meeting. | She said she would accept whatever decision was made at Monday's meeting. |
| "You have to accept that's a democratic process and some people feel that they want to do that, and I'm sorry about that, because I genuinely feel political stability is needed at this present time," she said. | "You have to accept that's a democratic process and some people feel that they want to do that, and I'm sorry about that, because I genuinely feel political stability is needed at this present time," she said. |
| "I have given assurances to the assembly and the minister and the Welsh Local Government Association that I will lead the process of improvement, so I obviously hope to succeed on Monday." | "I have given assurances to the assembly and the minister and the Welsh Local Government Association that I will lead the process of improvement, so I obviously hope to succeed on Monday." |
| A crisis meeting held by the council last week accepted "radical change" was needed to improve education in the county and said it would "rigorously implement" the Estyn action plan. | A crisis meeting held by the council last week accepted "radical change" was needed to improve education in the county and said it would "rigorously implement" the Estyn action plan. |
| Two recent reports have criticised the education service and its "ineffective leadership". | Two recent reports have criticised the education service and its "ineffective leadership". |
| DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL Independents: 18Conservatives: 9Labour: 7Plaid Cymru: 7Democratic Alliance of Wales: 3Non-aligned: 3 | DENBIGHSHIRE COUNCIL Independents: 18Conservatives: 9Labour: 7Plaid Cymru: 7Democratic Alliance of Wales: 3Non-aligned: 3 |
| In September, a highly critical report by Estyn found failures at the council to address poor performance. | In September, a highly critical report by Estyn found failures at the council to address poor performance. |
| It followed a consultants' report, which criticised standards in schools. | It followed a consultants' report, which criticised standards in schools. |
| Estyn's 35-page report said children's educational performance was below average at the ages of seven, 11 and at 16 when they take their GCSEs. | Estyn's 35-page report said children's educational performance was below average at the ages of seven, 11 and at 16 when they take their GCSEs. |
| In 2006, Denbighshire also came 19th of the 22 authorities in Wales for the percentage of students gaining two AS/A levels. | In 2006, Denbighshire also came 19th of the 22 authorities in Wales for the percentage of students gaining two AS/A levels. |
| The council said it had already begun to address some of the issues and had begun to invest £470,000 a year from 2006-07 on to improve attainment at key stage level 3. | The council said it had already begun to address some of the issues and had begun to invest £470,000 a year from 2006-07 on to improve attainment at key stage level 3. |
| 'Clear vision needed' | 'Clear vision needed' |
| It also said it had improved partnership working with the social services and tackled leadership problems at schools with the worst under attainment. | It also said it had improved partnership working with the social services and tackled leadership problems at schools with the worst under attainment. |
| But Ann Jones, Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, said she believed Ms Hughes should go. | But Ann Jones, Labour AM for the Vale of Clwyd, said she believed Ms Hughes should go. |
| "I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door," she said. | "I think the blame lies at her door and I don't think she can pass it anywhere other than her door," she said. |
| "It might have been a good idea had she thought about her position a lot sooner than now." | "It might have been a good idea had she thought about her position a lot sooner than now." |
| On the vote of no confidence, Conservative Dewi Owens said: "I have no qualms about it." | On the vote of no confidence, Conservative Dewi Owens said: "I have no qualms about it." |
| Eryl Owens, a teaching union official, said he hoped any action taken would help improve education. | Eryl Owens, a teaching union official, said he hoped any action taken would help improve education. |
| "What is currently needed is a clear vision for education within Denbighshire," he said. | "What is currently needed is a clear vision for education within Denbighshire," he said. |
| "The report has stated that education hasn't been given enough priority within the council so far, and currently the expenditure for education is far lower than what it should be and what it needs to be." | "The report has stated that education hasn't been given enough priority within the council so far, and currently the expenditure for education is far lower than what it should be and what it needs to be." |