Agenda and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosureofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, no interests were declared.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the previous meeting(s) as a correct record.

Resolved that the minutes of the Education & Skills Policy Development & Delivery Committee held on 13 September 2017 be approved as a correct record.

Jane Lewis, RLSP Manager for South West & Mid Wales gave a detailed and informative presentation outlining the background details, aims and objectives, and the Local Authority and Welsh Government involvement in the partnership.

As part of the presentation, she outlined and referred to the following areas:

·       3 Partnership groups in Wales, the Mid and South West Wales one is the largest geographical wise,

·       Different sectors involved – Post 16, Further Education, Industry etc

·       Purposes and potential outcomes,

·       Impact of the City Deal,

·       The Observatory – what it is and how the data contained in it is utilised,

·       Recently launched Regional Skills plan,

·       Main priorities – Employability, Learning & Career Choices & Opportunities & Provision,

·       Need to increase the amount of apprenticeship schemes available,

·       Economic picture of area and need to increase GVA,

·       What has been achieved to date,

·       RLSP moving forward – revised membership and more industry driven now,

·       Regional cluster groups, and their differing geographical and recruitment issues and focus,

·       Need to maximise the potential of the City Deal and its 10 main projects,

·       City Deal – skills intervention proposals,

·       5 step process for assisting the workforce,

·       Potential impact of the Tidal Lagoon.

Members discussed the issues and subject areas raised and highlighted during the presentation above, and asked a series of questions centred around the following areas, the RLSP Manager and Officers responded accordingly:-

Provision for young people with additional learning needs going forward, the need to improve digital, engineering skills and “soft” skills, need for much greater involvement with schools, need for further engagement with successful smaller businesses, lack of IT & engineering graduates in area and lack of software specialists

The Chair thanked the RLSP Manager for her presentation.

Judith James, Swansea University, gave a detailed and informative presentation outlining the background details to the development of Swansea as a Learning City.

As part of the presentation, she outlined and referred to the following areas:

·       UNESCO global network of 200 cities in 40 countries,

·       Fundamental conditions for the Learning City design,

·       Swansea’s involvement in Pilot Scheme since 2012,

·       Excellent Exposure for Swansea worldwide because of its involvement in the scheme,

·       Global Goals,

·       Six main stages in developing a Learning City,

·       Importance of recognition of industrial heritage and history,

·       Need to improve economic prosperity and increase GVA,

·       City of two halves – impact of poverty and deprivation on communities and need to address this, through the Authority’s Anti-Poverty Strategy,

·       Pisa results,

·       Development of Learning City policies and Welsh Government ambitions,

·       Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy success both in primary and secondary schools,

·       Further/Higher education initiatives and the “building in” of sustainability by young people to projects and ideas,

·       Importance of lifelong learning/continuing adult education,

·       Social enterprises and ecosystem for entrepreneurs,

·       Impact and effect of the 2^nd university bay campus,

·       Swansea success in achieving 2 awards in 2015,

·       Newly opened Swansea University School of Education(SUSE) facility,

·       Impact and potential of the City Deal projects,

·       Joseph Rowntree Foundation poverty review findings,

·       Next Steps – Development of Learning Neighbourhoods project, similar to the Cork model,

Members discussed the issues and subject areas raised and highlighted during the presentation above, and asked a series of questions centred around the following areas, Judith James and Officers responded accordingly:-

Development of the learning neighbourhood’s scheme – funding, staffing, which areas would be involved, need for school & industry involvement, liaison with ERW, issues around getting people & communities involved.

The Chair thanked Judith James for her presentation.

The Chief Education Officer presented a report which outlined the background details to the development of the needs assessment which aims ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to deliver the City Deal.

He outlined the proposals and work to be undertaken, the anticipated outcomes, the discussions needed with partner organisations and the governance arrangements to be put in place.

The Committee discussed the report and referred to issues around the need to further develop “computing” skills for pupils, teacher training issues, need to promote proposals to Headteachers, School Governors etc, retraining/upskilling of current teachers, promotion of apprenticeships and vocational/trade courses.

Resolved that a further report be brought back to the next meeting for approval, prior to its submission to the Cabinet Member.

The Chair outlined the Workplan for the Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2017/2018.

Resolved that the Work plan as outlined be noted, with the addition of the report back above.