Agenda item

6.1     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.   

6.2       The report provided the Committee with an opportunity to review the Department’s progress with its implementation of the measures described in the Action Plan (as set out in Appendix 1 to the report).   Fiona Wright (Assistant Director) and Caroline McKiddie (Participation Manager: Education, Employment & Training) provided Members with an overview of the key developments since the last meeting of the Committee.

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

·        Sustaining progress.  

The Committee recognised the achievements set out in the Action Plan.  However, given the pressure on resources Members asked for the Department’s view as to how the positive progress made to date can be sustained.    In response, the Committee were informed that, for example, some schools are struggling to find resource time to undertake activities that support the ‘Investors in Careers’ (IiC) award.  As a result the Department are helping to link Business Advisers to relevant schools so that they can provide additional support with some aspects of IiC work.    The Department also believe that over time it has refined its understanding of what activities have the most impact and that it has developed excellent working relationships with local schools.   These, and other factors, mean the Department are reasonably confident that the progress made to date is sustainable.

·        Work Placements for Year 10 pupils.   

The level of placements for Year 10 students has increased from 35% two years ago to 45% for the 2016/17 academic year.   Whilst recognising this progress, the Committee asked whether the Department are content with this figure and for its views on the challenges it is facing in achieving an increase in the number of Year 10 students being offered work placements next year.   In response, the Committee were informed that the Department believe the percentage rate in East Sussex compares favourably with national figures.  However, the Department are not content with this figure and believe that every young person should have the opportunity to participate in a work experience placement.   Given this the Department are exploring ways of expanding the service further so as to provide more work placement opportunities.   In terms of barriers to further progress, the Department accept that funding may present a challenge going forward as, for example, Colleges are charged for the service.  However, and with a view to encouraging maximum participation in the scheme, the Department are trying to ensure these charges are kept as low as possible.  In relation to this, feedback indicates that Colleges perceive the service as good value for money.

·        Employability Passport (EP). 

The Committee asked if Members could see an example of an employability passport and for feedback on how the EP is performing from the perspectives of both students and employers.    The Committee were informed that progress with the EP had been delayed whilst the Children’s Services Department wait for the Department for Education to release a passport via the Careers Enterprise Company.    In the meantime, progress has been made in partnership with Sussex Downs College and the ‘Digital Badges’ scheme they have developed.   The Department are keen to focus on providing a digital solution as evidence indicates that potential users have a strong preference for an electronic EP, as opposed to a paper based offer.  

·        Statutory responsibility to deliver high quality careers education.   

In response to a question from Members, it was clarified that it is the responsibility of schools to provide high quality careers advice.   However, the Department seek to support local schools via the IiC award.   For those schools that have chosen not to sign up for the IiC award, the Department co-ordinate a network of careers advisers in schools, with meetings taking place on a termly basis.  

·        Student knowledge of what careers advise is available.   

The Committee noted the comments in Appendix 2 relating to the Gatsby Foundation’s report finding that ‘so many young people are kept in the dark about the full range of options open to them’. The Department was therefore asked for clarification as to how students are made aware of the careers advice and support available to them.    In response, the Committee were informed that a young person’s awareness of this subject can come from a range of sources.   For example, and apart from the statutory role schools and colleges play, young people may receive advice from their parents.     Given this, work is being undertaken to ensure that parents receive information that will help them provide effective guidance.  A young person’s peer group can also play an important role in offering advice.   With this in mind, some local schools are currently working with an organisation called Future First.   This project uses an ‘alumni’ model which involves inviting former students to talk to their younger peers (this could be in person or via social media).    The Department are still reviewing this area and are exploring other methods as to how careers advice is provided.

·        Ofsted 2013 report.    

The Committee noted the findings set out in Ofsted’s 2013 report on careers advice that ‘[nationally] only one in five schools were effective in ensuring that all students were receiving the level of information they needed’.  As a result Members asked for the Department’s view on as to what proportion of schools in East Sussex are now currently providing effective careers advice.    In response, the Committee were informed that Ofsted have not raised any concerns about the quality of careers advice in East Sussex.   Furthermore that in terms of the percentage rate of schools who have signed up to the IiC award, the figure of 73% in East Sussex is much higher than the national sign up rate of 30%.    However, in the context of the pressure on funding, the Department accept that going forward this area will remain a challenge given the significant resources which schools have to dedicate to effectively managing the award scheme.     The Department also noted that the DfE have delayed publishing its ‘Careers, Education Information and Advice Strategy’ guidance document.   The Department hope that when this strategy is published, it will include a requirement that all schools must participate in a careers award scheme.               

6.4       RESOLVED – to:

1)   commend the progress made by the Department in implementing the recommendations set out in its Review; and

2)   that the Committee’s request to receive a further progress report for its meeting in June 2018 is added to the Scrutiny Work Programme.