AGENDA ITEM NO. 6(3)

EDUCATION FOR LIFE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 26TH FEBRUARY 2008

SUBJECT: 14 – 19 DEVELOPMENTS IN – PROGRESS REPORT

REPORT BY: DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND LEISURE

1. PURPOSE OF REPORT

1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide members with a progress report on 14 – 19 developments in Caerphilly.

2. SUMMARY

2.1 Reform of 14-19 education is a flagship initiative of the Wales Assembly Government, and a main theme of the DCELLs policy documents Learning Pathways 14 – 19, and ‘Vision into Action’.

2.2 In February 2006 CCBC took a decision to establish a dedicated 14 – 19 Unit to drive forward local delivery of the national 14-19 agenda. The Unit was established in September 2006, with the appointment of a local headteacher as Head of 14-19 Development.

2.3 The well-developed local culture of partnership working and support from all partners for this LEA initiative has led to rapid progress. Caerphilly has been acknowledged as a leading authority in the implementation of Learning Pathways 14-19 and in the development of school/college partnerships.

2.4 All schools and colleges are now actively involved in 14-19 collaborative working, with a consequent increase in the range and number of opportunities available to all Caerphilly’s young people post 14 and post 16.

3. LINKS TO STRATEGY

3.1 The report links directly to the Education for Life strategy, the Single Education Plan, and to the Wales Assembly Government’s policy objectives in ‘The Learning Country’ and ‘Vision into Action’.

3.2 The strongly collaborative and consortium-based approach of the three area partnerships reflects the recommendations for public services and education in Wales included in ‘making the Connections’, the Beecham Report and Webb Review.

4. THE REPORT

4.1 Caerphilly County Borough stretches over 40 kilometres from and Newport in the South to the Brecon Beacons in the North. It was formed as a Unitary Authority in April 1996 following the Local Government Reorganisation in Wales. It represented an amalgamation of 2-district councils- Islwyn and Valley, and part of Gwent and Mid County Councils. Unusually for Wales, and as a consequence of its origins, Caerphilly has two colleges of Further Education ( and Coleg Gwent-Cross Keys Campus) and is supported by two Careers Wales Companies (Careers Mid-Glam and Careers Gwent). As a result, collaborative working presents particular challenges and opportunities.

4.2 There are currently 14 mainstream secondary schools within Caerphilly County Borough, with a total of 13,036 Young people attending in January 2006 (CCBC Single Education Plan 2006-08). Current demand for Welsh secondary places is met by one secondary school, . Roman Catholic secondary education is provided by transfer from St. Helen’s RC Primary school to Cardinal Newman RC Comprehensive School in Rhondda Cynon Taff LEA. The Caerphilly County Borough Council Single Education Plan 2006-08 reports that “there is no evident demand for education to be provided in other faith based schools”.

4.3 Nine of the schools are 11-18 comprehensives, with sixth forms of varying sizes. The other five comprehensive schools are 11-16, with students wishing to study AS or A levels transferring to one of the two FE colleges: the College, Ystrad Mynach; or Coleg Gwent, Crosskeys Campus.

4.4 A particular challenge within Caerphilly borough is its physical geography, with some localities finding access to services problematical due to poor transport links. This has significant implications for collaborative work, and is certainly one of the reasons why the LEA strategy is to develop such work through the three existing area partnerships that came into being several years ago. Central support for learner travel has been a key feature in the success of collaborative working so far, and has significant financial implications. All schools and colleges are active participants in partnership working.

4.5 The Mid and Upper Rhymney Valley Collegium includes: Lewis School (11-18); Lewis Girls’ School (11-18); Heolddu Comprehensive School (11-18); Rhymney High School (11-18); The College, Ystrad Mynach; Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni* (11-18).

4.6 The Islwyn Partnership includes: Blackwood Comprehensive School (11-16); Oakdale Comprehensive School (11-16); Newbridge Comprehensive School (11-16); Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School (11-16); Risca Comprehensive School (11-16); Cwmcarn High School (11-18)**; Coleg Gwent (Crosskeys Campus).

4.7 The Caerphilly Basin Schools Partnership includes: Bedwas High School (11-18); St Cenydd Community School (11-18); St Martins Comprehensive School (11-18); The College, Ystrad Mynach; Trinity Fields.***

4.8 Post 16: Common timetables/options blocks across all partnership areas were implemented in September 2007. Partnership prospectuses describing these options have already been produced, and been widely distributed.

4.9 In September 2007 Post 16 learner options have increased from 2006 levels of 11 subjects (in small sixth forms); or 21 subjects (in larger sixth forms); or 43 subjects (at FE College) to more than 40 subjects for all students– wherever they live or are based. In September 2008 the number of subjects available to all post 16 students, will further increase to 43.

4.10 Numbers of students participating in collaborative post 16 courses have risen from 139 in September 2006 to 317 in September 2007. It is anticipated that these numbers will increase in September 2008.

* Cwm Rhymni Welsh Medium School is also in a collaborative relationship with Gwynlliw Welsh Medium School, Torfaen ** Cwmcarn High (Foundation) School attends DEPNET meetings with the Islwyn Group *** Trinity Fields Special School 4.11 Funding of post 16 courses is provided through the NPFS (National Planning and Funding System), which is based upon the volume of study being undertaken by an individual learner. Where such learning is collaborative (i.e. provided elsewhere) it is managed in Caerphilly through a common agreement across all participating schools whereby 80% of the Credit Equivalent Units (CEUs) generated by a particular course of study is transferred from the base school to the provider. Examination results will be credited to the base (i.e. commissioning) school. This system is one of the first such arrangements in Wales to have been jointly agreed by schools and colleges, and is regarded as innovative. Funding transfer between institutions is administered by the 14-19 Unit.

4.11 All post 16 learner travel between base schools and providers is centrally organised and funded by the LEA. This is regarded by participating institutions as an essential element in the successes so far; and is being considered by WAG as an example of good practice.

4.12 Post 14: In September 2006, post 14, there were 156 students accessing vocational courses through school-college links; in September 2007 expanded provision made 5 or more vocational options available to all schools in Caerphilly and 456 students participated. In September 2008 it is planned to increase this number to 591. This is in addition to courses based at the schools themselves.

4.13 Funding for additional and collaborative courses post 14 is not covered by the NPFS (which is currently a post 16 system); and is currently fully met through the annual 14-19 grant from WAG and administered by the 14-19 Unit. This funding cannot be guaranteed beyond 2010, and will not in any case be sufficient to cover the anticipated growth in vocational education. We are in discussion with schools about the possible future transfer of some proportion of the AWPU (Age-weighted pupil unit) funding to meet part of the costs of post 14 collaborative provision; however it should be noted that these courses are often much more expensive to staff and resource that the ones they are replacing, and a wider review of post 14 funding may be required.

4.14 Post 14 learner travel to access collaborative courses is currently provided on the same basis as that for post 16, and funded and organised through the 14-19 Unit. This system has ensured equal opportunity and full participation by all schools, and ensured that no learners are disadvantaged by their location.

4.15 The developments described above show our progress so far in meeting the first two strategic priorities of our 2007-2010 14-19 development strategy, namely:-

SP1 Increase the participation of 16/17 year olds in learning activity; and, SP2 Improve the curriculum offer to all 14/19 year olds via the collaborative options menu.

4.16 The remaining three strategic priorities are:-

SP3 Develop access to the wider learning core for learners of all abilities; SP4 Develop learning coach support for targeted learners in each learning setting; and SP5 Develop personal support provision in collaboration with the YPP

4.17 One of the most effective ways to achieve SP3 (access to the learning core) is through implementation of the Welsh BAC. The Welsh Bac is now offered at Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Levels in all partnership areas. We have also increased and enhanced other Learning Core activities across the borough, including WFL (Work-focused learning) for Welsh medium students and students with additional needs and a very successful pupil mentoring programme developed with the help of Trinity Fields.

4.18 Strategic priorities 4 and 5 relate to support for learners. An additional revenue grant from WAG last year has meant that we were able to provide, through our ‘Improving Access’ Project, learning coach support in all learning settings, and targeted at specific groups such as disaffected, disabled or those with learning difficulties. We have also established the ‘Innovate’ Project, which offers support to young people who are or are likely to become NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). There is a personal support/youth worker based in every school. We are also working with the YPP (Young People’s Partnership) to develop a ‘Keeping in Touch’ strategy to enable us to help more young people access education and training post 16.

4.19 The majority of the provision identified above is funded through a one year WAG grant, and will come to an end on March 31 2008. We have bid for money out of the next (2008-2009) 14-19 grant to continue the NEETs and personal support projects next year, and to retain the existing learning coaches until the end of the summer term.

4.20 We have been using the WAG ‘Demonstrating Success’ toolkit to assess the impact of our learning coaches this year; and our early indications have been that much of the success of our collaborative provision has been because of the support that they have provided (we have a system where they accompany learners to off-site courses). From next September, schools will have to fund their learning coach support from within their own resources, but we shall still be able to fund their training centrally.

4.21 Regular meetings of the Headteachers (Strategic) and the School and College Curriculum Managers support the work of the three Area Partnerships. The Curriculum Managers also meet collectively on a regular basis (DEPNET Group) to ensure that a consistent county-wide approach is maintained. Representatives of both colleges play a full part in all discussions, as they do in the meetings of the Caerphilly Network LAN.

4.22 The readiness of all partners to play a positive role in collaborative development has been a major factor in any successes so far; and is a crucial element in future progress.

4.23 Representatives from the Caerphilly 14-19 Unit have made a number of contributions and presentations at regional and national levels on the subject of collaborative working and the development of a Caerphilly model for 14-19 partnerships.

5. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 The sustainability of activities that are currently grant funded.

5.2 The need to continue central support for the funding and organisation of learner travel to collaborative provision (currently approx £3 per learner per week).

6. PERSONNEL IMPLICATIONS

6.1 There are no personnel implications.

7. CONSULTATIONS

7.1 Consultees as detailed below.

8. RECOMMENDATIONS

8.1 Members are invited to discuss the report.

9. REASONS FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS

9.1 This report has been prepared in response to a request from the Assistant Director of Education (Learning, Education and Inclusion) for members to receive a progress report on 14-19 developments.

10. STATUTORY POWER

10.1 This report does not require the application of statutory powers. However, there is a proposed WAG measure, currently out for consultation, which may provide for minimum levels of learner entitlement and support, and a duty on institutions to work collaboratively.

Author: David Eynon, Head 0f 14-19 Development, E-mail: [email protected] Consultees: Director of Education and Leisure Senior Management Team Cllr David Hardacre, Cabinet Member for Education and Leisure Staff of CCBC 14-19 Development Unit Caerphilly LAN Caerphilly DEPNET