Issue - meetings

That the breadth of activity undertaken within schools to support leaners to engage effectively in a suitable outcome, including employment, post 16 be recognised.

The Senior Manager – Inclusion & Progression introduced a report to provide an overview for Members regarding the provision available through Flintshire schools, to support learners with the required skills to move on successfully from compulsory education. 

                        The Learning and Skills Measure (2009) enabled learners to follow a more individualised curriculum at Key Stage 4.  The range of vocational options on offer, taken alongside the vocational qualifications, had been supplemented through the use of additional funding from the Flintshire 14-19 allocation of the Education Improvement Grant (EIG).  This enabled the learners to access vocational courses through a range of external providers e.g. Coleg Cambria, North Wales Training and Motivational Preparation College for Training (Military Preparation).  Careers and the World of Work (CWW) was also an integral part of the Key Stage curriculum and the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification provided further opportunities for learners to develop their work-related skills.  Further support was available for learners who may need additional input to maintain their engagement in their education and to develop self-confidence, self-esteem and employability skills through the TRAC programme.  This was a regional project funded through the European Social Fund and provided a range of bespoke provision and support for 11-19 year olds in school or further education settings. 

Flintshire had a well-established 14-19 Network which oversees the strategic direction or provision for learners across Flintshire.  The success of Flintshire’s schools in preparing young people to move on effectively from compulsory education could be seen through the low NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) figures.  Flintshire had maintained the lowest national rate of Year 11 NEET learners in Wales (1.3% for two consecutive years indicating that learners were well prepared and able to transition effectively into Post 16 education, training or employment).  Similar measurements were taken for Year 12 and Year 13 learners and Flintshire figures were also very low for both of these categories (0.9% for Year 12 – 3^rd lowest in Wales, and 2.6% for Year 13 – 2^nd lowest in Wales).   

The Senior Manager – Inclusion & Progression advised that schools were under pressure to offer a broad and balanced curriculum which ensured learners were literate and numerate, had access to a broad and balanced curriculum and left education with the required employability skills.  These requirements placed a resource pressure on the available curriculum time to deliver these requirements and the breadth of curriculum also placed a resource pressure on schools in terms of appropriately trained and skilled staff who were able to deliver the curriculum. 

Councillor Paul Cunningham welcomed the breadth of options available.     

            RESOLVED:

            That the breadth of activity undertaken within schools to support learners to engage effectively in a suitable outcome, including employment, post 16 be recognised.