Agenda item

(To receive a report from Maggie Freeman, Head of Service 11-19, which provides an update of the work being done to provide opportunities for young people post 16)

Consideration was given to a report of the Executive Director of Children’s Services, which provided details of the work undertaken to implement the Raising the Participation Age (RPA) in Lincolnshire.

Maggie Freeman, Head of Service 14-19, introduced the report, highlighting further budget reductions for 2015/2016.  There would be a £2.8m reduction in funding in 2014/15 and a further £1.2m reduction in 2015/16.

During discussion, the following points were noted:-

• Raising the Participation Age (RPA) was implemented in September 2013 with the second phase due to be implemented in September 2014.  This would mean that young people would have to participate in post 16 education or learning until their 18^th birthday.  If an appropriate offer of places was made then the number of young people participating post 16 should decline.  However, tension remained for some school sixth forms who need to maintain their numbers for financial viability;
• Support was being provided to schools in terms of collaboration by helping them develop formal arrangements and ensuring collaboration continued despite management changes within schools;
• The leverage which could be exerted through the data was used to encourage schools to collaborate.  The data available showed schools how serious the issues were which has resulted in them being more receptive to the process of collaboration; 
• Schools had a statutory duty to advise the Local Authority when a pupil was leaving and, in turn, the Local Authority had a statutory duty to follow that pupil;
• Plans were currently underway for September 2015 and offers for young people were scheduled to be sent out in the Autumn 2014;
• Members felt there was a clear need to find out why the numbers of young people "dropping out" of their sixth form courses were so high and an understanding of why this was happening would likely assist in providing a more appropriate offer for that student.  It was confirmed that work was ongoing to improve the offers currently presented to children;
• It was acknowledged that the Joint Sixth Form provision between Sir Robert Pattinson Academy and North Kesteven School in North Hykeham was a clear example of best practice within Lincolnshire, although the geographical location of these schools was an advantage;
• Although the model used in Ipswich and Suffolk was also an example of good practice, this could not be adopted in Lincolnshire.  However, replication of this model was being promoted by encouraging schools to work together;
• Headteachers in Stamford had asked New College Stamford to join discussions for a collaboration and have asked the Local Authority to undergo more detailed mapping and costings; 
• The Local Authority now only have the ability to encourage schools to take a certain route and it was suggested that officers and Members should work together to ascertain how Members could potentially use their democratic mandate to work with all schools;
• There was a suggestion that the local authority role could include encouraging schools to be mindful of their moral responsibilities in addition to ensuring the business was a success;
• In order to keep specialist teachers, for example a Japanese language teacher, schools should be encouraged to work with other schools nearby to provide that course in their area rather than for their school alone which may only be for one or two pupils.  This would then give pupils and teachers increased opportunities;
• Work was nearing completion to identify the strategic priorities, including the skills shortages within the county and what companies would be looking for when recruiting.  Work was ongoing with the Employment and Skills Board to clarify these details which would have some influence in terms of the strategic implications;
• Additional options regarding careers guidance and making links with employers had been included but it remained the responsibility of the school to provide independent advice and guidance to young people; 
• The Aspirations document was published on a termly basis; and
• Members felt that the overall position was not acceptable at present, despite officers following statutory guidance, as young people should be able to do the courses they wanted to within Lincolnshire. 

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That a clear strategy be formulated, taking into consideration the comments made, and presented to the Committee as part of the 16-19 Strategic Priorities report in July 2014.