Agenda and minutes

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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 10 January 2018 be approved as a correct record.

Councillor L R Jones reported he had approached a number of authorities for information, and would hopefully report the findings to the next meeting.

Councillor M Durke distributed a booklet from the universities, which detailed all the opportunities available locally for graduates.

Nick Williams reported, detailed and distributed a list of the various meetings/presentations/events that have been undertaken over the last couple of months with Headteachers’ and Deputy Headteachers’ relating to the City Deal.

He referred to the feedback from these meetings has indicated that the targeting of pupils under 16 is essential for raising the profile and outlining the opportunities available.

He detailed the positive feedback he had received from recent meetings with young people in several schools which indicated that they were becoming more aware of the potential opportunities from the City Deal/Lagoon etc.

The need to further develop the link between schools and local businesses was outlined and discussed again, with the idea of producing a list of “speakers” that schools could utilise. These could range from successful local business people, retired trades people, former pupils, trade unions etc.

The ongoing discussions with schools to further develop ideas around talk/seminars, visits to universities, promoting apprenticeship schemes was outlined.

The role of the regional partnership group in involving local businesses was outlined and detailed, as well as the role that careers wales will also have.

The Chair reported further to the report considered by Cabinet in December which highlighted the need for a more local focus and coordination of work within Swansea.

He referred to the recently received terms of reference for the newly established Swansea Skills Partnership group that has been set up to feed into the Regional Partnership. The group has also established four sub groups under it, all of which will look at different areas of work.

Nick Williams indicated that the group has met and is seeking the endorsement of their aims from the Committee and Cabinet Member.

The need to develop a more focused approach for assisting, developing and encouraging less able pupils, particularly those with difficult family backgrounds was suggested as an area for future review.

Paul Greenwood, Chair of the Regional Skills & Learning Partnership Board and owner of Teddington Bell Engineering firm in Llanelli outlined the background details and reasons behind his involvement with the Board.

He indicated that in his and other local employers opinions, young people entering the job market were not properly equipped and did not have the appropriate level of basic literacy, numeracy and communication skills.

He indicated that the partnership has now evolved from an education led body into an employer based organisation now, with over 300 companies currently involved. He stated that below the Regional Group there are eight cluster groups that have been established to look at specific areas. The Chair of each of the eight groups reports to the Regional Board.

He indicated that the board is firmly behind the idea of promoting and supporting the idea of non degree/trade/non vocational courses and qualifications.

He indicated that the potential impact of the City Deal, Lagoon and other new Welsh Government initiatives are all being considered by the Board.

He indicated that in his view the pre 16 age group was the key area to focus on and develop basic skills.

Mr Greenwood and Members discussed and debated at length various factors and influences on the education process, including the following areas: - perception of education system by business, current FE provision, the need to improve primary school provision and learning outcomes, length and detail of current university courses, learning to earning potential and promotion, the crucial importance of the role of parents, issues around the non-co-operation between the two universities, need to produce a better balanced workforce, problems with school bureaucracy and exam targets, need to collate what provision is available across the region for young people in both pre and post 16 provision.

The Chair thanks Mr Greenwood for his attendance and input.

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

The need for further data to be provided to the next meeting on the GSCE/A level courses available was outlined. The draft Cabinet report would therefore be delayed to a future meeting.

The possibility of young people attending a future meeting to input their views to be investigated.

Resolved that the Workplan as outlined, subject to the comments above be noted.