Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

15.1     The Committee established a ‘Raising the Participation Age’ (RPA) Review Board to examine if East Sussex County Council was meeting relevant statutory duties and whether improvements could be made to increase the levels of participation of young people in education, employment and training.    The report updated the Committee on the Action Plan adopted by the Children’s Services Department following the presentation of the final report to Cabinet in January 2016.   Fiona Wright (Assistant Director) and Caroline McKiddie(Participation Manager Education, Employment & Training) welcomed the progress highlighted within the report and provided an overview of some of the key developments since this item was last considered by the Committee.

15.2     In response the Committee welcomed the report and raised a number of questions in relation to the Action Plan (set out in Appendix 2 of the report).  A summary of the Committee’s questions, together with responses from the Department are set out below:  

·        Investors in Careers (IIC).  The Committee noted the high number of secondary schools that have achieved IIC accreditation.    However, it was noted that a number of schools are due for review and the Committee asked for clarification as to whether this had been taken on board by the relevant schools.   It was also noted that a number of academies did not appear to have engaged with the Council over IIC accreditation and that there appears to be a lack of information about the engagement of Colleges.   The Committee therefore asked if it could be provided with further information on these points.   In response, the Committee were informed there is an officer who devotes a substantial amount of their time to support the re-accreditation process and so this is being actively worked on.   A further development is that the Department for Education (DfE) are bringing out statutory advice which it is hoped will include guidance on kite-marking in this area.   It is hoped therefore that good levels of engagement will continue given both the officer support on offer and revised statutory guidance.

·        Governor Champions.   The Committee asked for an update regarding progress with appointing Governor Champions and whether, if further Champions were in place, this could also help increase the number of institutions seeking IIC accreditation.   In response, the Committee were informed that the Department had undertaken a number of activities to promote the role of the Governor Champion.  This included attending a number of governor briefings and contributing to governor newsletters.    There is also Department for Education guidance which the Children’s Services Department anticipate will support its work in this area.  However, as things stand further developmental and promotional work relating to the Governor Champion role is required.

·        Employability Passport.   Given the Employability Passport pilot had now finished, the Committee asked for feedback about the effectiveness of the project.  In response it was explained that the project had been successful and was well-received by young people.   However, as the project was paper-based many of the young people involved expressed a strong preference for an online  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15

Report by the Chair of the Raising the Participation Age Review Board.

27.1    Nicola Boulter, Chair of the Review Board, introduced the report by explaining that the aim of raising the age of participation is to ensure young people remain positively engaged with education, employment or training until at least the age of 18.   The Review Board was therefore established to investigate:

• whether East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is meeting its statutory duties in this area; and
• to identify whether any improvements can be made to increase participation in education, employment or training.

27.2     The Review Board comprised: Nicola Boulter (Parent Governor Representative and Chair of the Board), Councillors Kim Forward, Roy Galley, Francis Whetstone and in the early stages of the review, Catherine Platten (Parent Governor Representative).   Nicola thanked on behalf of the Review Board all those who had contributed to the review and the recommendations contained in the report.   Mrs Boulter also requested the following amendments be made to the report:

• Page 55 amendment to tables.   The published version of these tables only gives a percentage figure.   The Board asked that these tables be amended to show the numbers of pupils, as well as the percentage figure. 
• List of schools Appendix (page 72).   The Chair asked that this table be amended so that the Red, Amber and Green colour coding system be reinstated.  This will enable quick identification of the ‘Investors in Careers’ accreditation status.
• Recommendation 3 – All schools should appoint a Governor as a careers advice champion.     So as to help ensure it is taken forward by school governing bodies, it was requested that this recommendation be taken to area governor meetings.
• Recommendation 8 – Commend the idea of an employability passport and encourage its swift development.  Work should be undertaken where possible to make the Employability Passport regionally and nationally accepted and recognised.  A request was made for an update on the pilot scheme.

27.3       The Committee, including members of the Review Board, then discussed the report and recommendations. These comments are summarized below:

·       the Review has highlighted an overall positive position in East Sussex and that the Board’s twelve recommendations will help improve matters further without significant additional resources being needed to implement them.  Although the Children’s Services Department will need to help with facilitating implementation of some of the recommendations.  For example, the Board felt that the standard of careers training across schools varies and that whilst this is a matter for schools themselves, the Committee asked whether more could be done to help encourage governing bodies and school leaders to improve careers advice and guidance.   

·       That whilst it is clear those with the highest of level of need will receive support, the Board felt that those young people on the next level down (on the Continuum of Need) might not receive the support they need and this therefore would remain a challenge.  

·       There is a need to actively engage with local businesses and help improve the relationship between them and schools.       

·       That steps need to be taken to ensure proper training and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27