Agenda item

(To receive a report which invites the Committee to consider a report on Strategic Priorities for 16-18 (25) Education and Training for 2016/17 which is due to be considered by the Executive on 6 October 2015)

Consideration was given to a report which invited the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee to consider a report on Strategic Priorities for 16 – 18 (25) Education and Training for 2016/17 which was due to be considered by the Executive on 6 October 2015.

The Committee was guided through the report, and it was reported that the picture for post 16 education was similar to that in previous years.  There continued to be some successes including attainment levels that were in line with those nationally, relatively low levels of NEET, high participation at age 16, as well as the success of the Supported Internship Programme in securing employment outcomes for young people with SEND.

Members were advised that there were challenges arising from a declining cohort, increasing competition, a reduction of funding in real terms and a funding mechanism that encouraged competition rather than collaboration which were significant and increasing.

It was also noted that there was a potential risk that changes to the way apprenticeships were funded would impact on the financial viability of some Apprenticeship providers and on the number of Apprenticeships offered.  Lincolnshire had a large proportion of small and medium enterprises (SME's), some of which were already reluctant to take apprentices due to the perceived additional bureaucracy.  Members were advised that the Government had sought to simplify this process as much as possible.  However, the relationship between provider and employer would change, which the provider securing public funding in direct proportion to the fee negotiated with the employer.  There were concerns that competition, particularly in relation to the popular frameworks, could result in reducing fees with an inevitable impact on quality. 

It was reported that student numbers in sixth forms had, overall, increased slightly.  However, the increase was not consistent across schools with 17 schools seeing a reduction, some of which were substantial, and in 7 schools there had been a continuing decline in numbers over the last 3 years.  As a result, there continued to be concerns in relation to some schools, particularly those with smaller sixth forms.

Members were advised that the Supported Internship Programme, particularly that delivered by the Council's own Promoting Employment Team (PET) had been particularly successful in terms of securing employment outcomes for those students with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND).  At the time of the meeting, 26 out of 36 internees had achieved paid employment, and it was expected that this number would rise before the end of the summer.

It was reported that Lincoln College had been awarded a license to develop 'Career Colleges' including an aerospace course with the RAF and BAE, and it was expected that learners would be recruited from September 2016.  There was also a suggestion to develop a construction course and a health and social care course.

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         In relation to SEND, the authority had been supporting some individuals for several years post 16 education, and the focus should be on progressing these young adults into adult outcomes  including employment where this was appropriate;

·         A young person was entitled to education through their education health and care plan.  Young people over the age of 25 9or over the age of 21 without an EHC Plan) would be able access programmes that were funded by the adult skills budget;

·         The student survey highlighted transport as an issue, but in relation to availability rather than funding;

·         It was noted that colleges did have access to bursary funding which could be targeted towards students who were in financial difficulty and where this could have an impact on their attendance.  It was in the interest of the college to find ways to retain learners, as their funding was dependent on students finishing their courses;

·         It was queried whether it was thought that the introduction of the national living wage in 2016 would lead to more employers taking on apprentices.  Members were advised that the minimum wage for apprentices would rise from £2.73 to £3.30 per hour in October 2015, but when they reached the age of 18, employers were required to pay apprentices the national minimum wage.  The authority tried to encourage employers to pay over the minimum rate for apprentices;

·         It was commented that the focus seemed to be on getting children into higher education;

·         It was difficult to promote the apprenticeship route as an alternative to an academic route, when most of the apprenticeships only go up to level 2.  There was a need for a progression route to be in place;

·         The Council's role was a strategic one and one of influencing in terms of promoting apprenticeships;

·         The role of the existing careers service was to support 16-18 year olds who were not engaged in education (NEETs).  Where there were particular reasons why they could not engage, e.g. if they were ill, these young people would be taken off the Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) list.  There would always be a few young people who were between providers, and some would always be difficult to engage with;

·         The University Technical College (UTC) provided county wide provision, and transport arrangements were in place but officers would find out what its recruitment pattern was.  It was noted that it was run on a business basis, and students were expected to be there from 9am until 5.00pm.  In terms of the curriculum, it had to deliver the standard curriculum, and the specific vocational subjects were in addition to this;

·         In relation to the new legislation around SEND and the introduction of the requirement for social, health and education needs to be included,  it was confirmed that a young person's needs would be identified in their Education Health and Care Plan and resources allocated accordingly;

·         It was queried what control the authority had over the validity of the apprenticeships and that students were completing them, and it was reported that no-one really had control over this.  However, Ofsted did have checks in place for employers, and the new system would have outcome payments, so employers would only receive the funding once the apprenticeship had been completed;

·         The proposals for three Career Colleges were being designed very specifically for young people to develop practical vocational skills, and it was possible that there would be a potential for the option to recruit young people at 14;

·         It was suggested that young people moving from one course to another should not be considered a bad thing, as it built experience and skills, and it was suggested whether there could be an introduction of 'participation points' so that their participation could be recognised.  It was thought that this was something which could be discussed with the Local Enterprise partnership (LEP);

·         It was acknowledged that the first course a student enrols on may not be the right one for them, and there were lots of courses with access points, which has had a positive effect.  If a student decides to not continue with a course at a point where they could not join another one, they would be placed on a 'holding course' where they could explore lots of different options.  Lincoln College was leading on developing this approach;

·         In relation to skills, there was a need to integrate into some of the sector led development and school support;

·         It was thought that increasingly, students would start making choices at 14 years old rather than 16 in relation to their further education;

·         Closing the gap was still a concern, as by 16 if a student was not at the appropriate level of attainment, it was very difficult for any provider to close that gap by 18;

·         A publication was produced in partnership with the Employment and Skills Board (ESB) which detailed all the opportunities which were available;

·         Colleges would run any programmes which were appropriate for students;

·         It was confirmed that the 'Career Colleges' would be physical buildings rather than virtual.  It had been suggested that the construction college could be located in Gainsborough;

·         Concerns were expressed that colleges were tailoring courses to the demands of students rather than filling the skills gap;

·         It was confirmed that schools were allowed to opt out of delivering face to face careers guidance provided by the County Council, and were not required to provide anything in its place, as the legislation stated that schools did not have to provide face to face guidance.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Children and Young People support the recommendations to the Executive as set out in the report;

2.    That the following additional comments be passed to the Executive:

• Concerns were raised regarding access to funding for young people over 25 with special education needs who wanted to continue learning. It was highlighted that adults and community training would be available which was funded through the adult skills budget. However, this budget was now also being focussed on Apprenticeships.
• It was queried whether poverty affected young people's attendance at post 16 providers. It was noted that this was an issue in East Lindsey, but this was also due to the availability of courses and not just the costs involved. It was highlighted that post 16 students have access to bursary funding for those in financial difficulty and it was in the interests of post 16 providers to retain learners as funding was dependent on the number of learners enrolled on courses.
• Concerns were raised as to whether the national living wage could cause employers to take on more apprentices instead to avoid paying the living wage. It was noted that pay for apprentices was going up from £2.73 to £3.30 per hour for 16 – 18 year olds from October 2015. For those apprentices over 19 and who have completed their first year, they are entitled to the national minimum wage. However, employers were encouraged to pay above the minimum Apprenticeship wage.
• It was questioned whether the new University Technical College (UTC) in Lincoln attracted students from across the County or just Lincoln and the surrounding area, and whether there were any implications for transport. It was highlighted that there was a transport arrangement in place but officers would need to query what the recruitment pattern across the county had been. Students had to be at the UTC from 9am to 5pm and the UTC had to deliver the standard curriculum. The Committee was informed that the Principal had extended an invitation to the Committee to visit the UTC and it was agreed that a visit should be arranged for later this year.
• Some young people dipped in and out of different courses and it was suggested whether a pilot could be trialled where the participation by a young person on different courses could be validated and counted towards their overall post 16 attendance. Officers agreed to speak to the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership about this to see whether it could be looked into. It was noted that there was a need for different access points and talks were ongoing with colleges regarding this. Lincoln College was leading on this by allowing young people who started a course but did not like it to move onto a holding course to experience different options before moving onto a new course.
• Concerns were raised about the lack of progress regarding collaboration between school sixth forms and it was queried what the next steps would be on this issue. It was highlighted that officers would continue to work with school sixth forms on collaboration, but at the current time, funding challenges had not become so severe as to persuade schools to collaborate. It was noted that this would eventually happen as next year would be the last year of the transitional protection funding.
• It was queried whether the three new careers colleges for aerospace engineering, construction, and health and social care, would be virtual or in physical buildings. It was noted that they would be physical and located in existing provision, with the aerospace engineering careers college hopefully opening next year. Lincoln College had been awarded a license to develop the three careers colleges which would take young people from the age of 14 years old.
• It was questioned whether the three schools which had opted out from purchasing the Council's careers service and were not replacing it with alternative provision were allowed to do that. It was noted that they could as the careers advice offered did not have to be face to face.