AGENDA ITEM CITY AND COUNTY OF CARDIFF DINAS A SIR CAERDYDD CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 6 NOVEMBER 2007 Cardiff 14-19 Network Annual Development Plan Background 1. At its meeting of 8th May 2007, the Committee received a report on items to be included in the Committee’s work programme for the forthcoming municipal year. Following consideration of the many issues concerning Children and Young People, Members agreed to receive a report on the Cardiff 14 – 19 Network’s Annual Network Development Plans. 2. The 14-19 Network in Cardiff has a statutory duty to produce an Annual Network Development Plan for submission to the National Assembly for Wales. The Cardiff 14-19 Network has completed the delivery of its plan for 2006/ 2007 and received approval for the 2007/2008 plan. The 2008/2009 plan is being developed and will be submitted for approval to the National Assembly for Wales by 31st January 2008. Purpose of the Report 3. The purpose of this report is to provide Members with an opportunity to receive verbal briefing on the development of the 2008-09 plan together with details of the Network’s progress in achieving the actions identified in the 2007 – 2008 plan (attached at Appendix 1). 4. The Council’s Single Education Plan 2006-2008 includes as a key strategy “To establish, with schools and key partners, the organisational, leadership, curriculum, information and pastoral arrangements which will deliver an entitlement for all 14 – 19 year olds in Cardiff to be offered a broader range of learning opportunities that will increase levels of participation and achievement, reduce significantly the number of pupils leaving school at 16 without a recognised qualification and increase participation post-16” 5. In addition the Single Education Plan sets out the following key actions : • Consult on and implement the outcomes of the 14 – 19 assignment considering the best partnership model to deliver 14 – 19 Learning Pathways in Cardiff • Support the implementation of the Network’s 14-19 action plan for 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 following approval by the Welsh Assembly Government. • Implement the relevant aspects of the 14 – 19 action plan which involve: developing the involvement of young people in decision- making and in the provision of information; updating information about the learning opportunities in ways which appeal to young people and their parents; developing support for learners, covering advice about learning pathways, careers advice and personal advice and guidance through involvement in piloting national and local initiatives; working with Careers Wales to develop its on line service to meet the information and support needs of all young people aged 14-19. 6. The Plan also sets out a number of key factors in the delivery of the 14 – 19 Learning Pathways, namely by: – Defining students’ curriculum entitlement – Accepting that no institution can provide on its own – Placing students’ interests at the centre; all institutions accepting corporate responsibility to deliver – Establishing partnership arrangements between schools, Colleges and other providers which will deliver entitlement over a measurable period of time 7. Councillor Bill Kelloway, Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning may make a statement, Chris Jones; Chief Schools and Lifelong Learning Officer, Robert Hopkins, OM Management Standards and School Effectiveness and John Fabes, the Cardiff 14-19 Network co-ordinator, will present the report and be available to answer any questions Members may have. Way Forward 8. Members may wish to comment on the information attached at Appendix 1 and consider any issues for further investigation. Legal Implications 9. The Scrutiny Committee is empowered to enquire, consider, review and recommend but not to make policy decisions. As the recommendations in this report are to consider and review matters there are no direct legal implications. However, legal implications may arise if and when the matters under review are implemented with or without any modifications. Any report with recommendations for decision that goes to Executive/Council will set out any legal implications arising from those recommendations. All decisions taken by or on behalf the Council must (a) be within the legal powers of the Council; (b) comply with any procedural requirement imposed by law; (c) be within the powers of the body or person exercising powers of behalf of the Council; (d) be undertaken in accordance with the procedural requirements imposed by the Council e.g. Scrutiny Procedure Rules; (e) be fully and properly informed; (f) be properly motivated; (g) be taken having regard to the Council's fiduciary duty to its taxpayers; and (h) be reasonable and proper in all the circumstances Financial Implications 10. The Scrutiny Committee is empowered to enquire, consider, review and recommend but not to make policy decisions. As the recommendations in this report are to consider and review matters there are no direct financial implications at this stage in relation to any of the work programme. However, financial implications may arise if and when the matters under review are implemented with or without any modifications. These financial implications will need to be considered before any changes are implemented. Any report with recommendations for decision that goes to Executive/Council will set out any financial implications arising from those recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS That Members note the information contained in Appendix 1 and submit any comments or recommendations to the Executive Member, Corporate Director and Chief Schools and Lifelong Learning Officer. MARTIN HAMILTON Chief Scrutiny Performance and Governance Officer 29th OCTOBER 2007 ANNEX 1 Learning Pathways 14-19 Annual Network Development Plan 2007-2008 Page 1 Index Page 1. Context 3 2. History and Geographic Profile 4 3. Strategy 15 4. Strategic Priorities 16 5. Option Menu 16 6. What we are currently doing 17 7. What does our analysis and research tell us? 18 8. Targets 19 9. How we will address these priorities 19 10. Communication 20 Page 2 1. Context Foreword by the Minister Extract from the Ministerial Foreword, Learning Pathways I4-19 Guidance II. 0ur goal remains that: "95 per cent of young people by the age of 25 will be ready for high skilled employment or higher education by 2015." To achieve this we seek nothing less through Learning Pathways than the transformation of young people's options and opportunities. We are extending choice and flexibility; securing individually tailored learning pathways that meet learners’ needs; and providing richer opportunities and experiences that will help learners develop the wider skills they need for life and work. This is backed up by a unique blend of support that will ensure that all learners have the advice and guidance they need to make good choices and to overcome barriers to learning. The transformation of 14-19 provision for all learners requires the achievement of a balance between national and local developments. We will continue to work closely with our local partners, drawing on their knowledge and experience in supporting national policy. This depends on 14-19 Networks in each local authority area developing a genuine collaborative and strategic approach to the implementation of Learning Pathways. This is an important time in the development of the Learning Pathways agenda. The successful implementation of Learning Pathways also depends on re-alignment of existing provision and funding to complement the extra resources. Page 3 2. History and Geographic Profile The most recent and comprehensive description of Cardiff in relation to education, training, skills, employment, achievement and present and future economic developments is that presented within the Capital Learning (CCET) annual report. The introduction to that report is provided below. It’s main omission is that of reference to the new MoD development at St. Athans which will only add impetus to many of the areas of the economy described in the report especially construction, future training needs and heightened demand in the retail and service sectors. ABOUT CARDIFF Cardiff is the largest local authority in Wales and undisputedly the region’s economic engine for growth. Its population estimate in 2005 was 319,700 1 - a 5% growth since 1993, making Cardiff one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. Young people (15-24yrs) account for 23.2% of the city’s population (appreciably higher than the Welsh average at 19%), attracted to the city by its world class higher education facilities and by its buoyant economy 2. According to the 2001 census, there are 127,500 households in Cardiff of which 69% are owner-occupied. Of the remainder, 17% are in the social rented sector and 13% are in the private rented sector. Approximately 8% of the local population come from minority ethnic communities. Economy In the period between 1991 and 2003 Cardiff’s economy grew by 19.4%, with employment levels increasing by 1.2% between 2002 and 2003, higher than that across Great Britain (0.5%) but slightly lower than that across Wales (1.6%). The total number of employed people in Cardiff in 2003, including those self-employed, stood at 178,250. Cardiff (with the Vale of Glamorgan) has also performed very well in terms of Gross Value Added – GVA - (formerly known as Gross Domestic Product – GDP) which, between 1995 to 2002, rose by 53.3% per head. This is significantly higher than the average Welsh performance (32.6%) and Great Britain (41.8%) over the same period 3. Cardiff has experienced full employment in recent years , but although the claimant count resident based unemployment rates fell from 2.7% to 2.4% 2 between January 2004 – 5, it started to climb in 2006 up to 2.5%4. However, this city-wide statistic hides pockets of much higher unemployment. Thus, and for example, the so-called ‘southern arc’ of the city registers an unemployment rate of 3.8% which is comparable with the worst in Wales.