Agenda, decisions and minutes

www.swansea.gov.uk/disclosureofinterests

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared;

Councillor S Pritchard – Agenda Item 4 - Positional Statement for Vocational Education in Swansea – personal.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City and County of Swansea, the following interest was declared;

Councillor S Pritchard – Agenda Item 4 - Positional Statement for Vocational Education in Swansea – personal.

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

Approved

Resolved that the minutes of the Education & Skills Policy Development Committee held on 17 November 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

For information

David Bawden presented a ‘for information’ report which updated the Policy Development Committee and outlined the current positional statement for vocational education in Swansea for children and young people aged 14-19.

He outlined the background to the current provision of vocational education in schools and colleges which is based around learning provision for 14-19 year olds in schools and colleges in Wales and is determined by the Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure, 2009; which places a duty on local authorities, 14-19 networks, schools and colleges to work with Welsh ministers to provide local curricula that comprise of a range of courses and options for learners.

He detailed that an additional Junior Apprenticeship programme in Wales is aimed at 14-16 year olds and enables them to undertake a level 1 or 2 vocational pathway at a local college, developing practical skills while gaining qualifications. A programme known as the Junior Academy in Swansea has been developed through partnership with Swansea schools and Gower College Swansea since 2019/2020.

He also outlined and detailed the additional funding which has enabled the delivery of training provision via the Cynnydd project.

He outlined the following current areas of delivery across schools in Swansea, which include:

·       Vocational courses delivered on school site by school staff, for example Health and Social Care;

·       Vocational courses delivered on school site by college staff, for example Children’s Care and Learning Development;

·       Vocational courses delivered off site by college staff, for example Engineering and Construction;

·       Full-time vocational course and work-related experience (Junior Academy) delivered off site by college staff and industry links, for example Landscaping & Horticulture and Hair & Beauty;

·       Links with and courses and initiatives available via Coleg Sir Gar and Neath Port Talbot Colleges;

The links with Careers Wales across all schools in Swansea was also outlined in preparing young people with support, employer engagement and work readiness, as well as the potential impact of the New Curriculum for Wales which has these areas embedded within it.

The importance of identifying skills shortages and preparing young people for future jobs, particularly those linked to the City Deal going forward should be assisted by the development of the Skills & Training programme agreed via the City Deal and approved by both Welsh and UK governments.

Members asked various questions and made comments regarding both the report and presentation particularly around the implications and effect of the City Deal, attitudes to vocational learning in schools, availability of courses to young people, expansion of vocational learning going forward, numbers of young people involved in the various courses and current lack of employability skills of young people, to which both Officers and the Cabinet Member responded accordingly.

Members agreed that an update on the vocational provision in Swansea along with more detailed statistics regarding the numbers of young people involved in the various courses and projects/initiatives and information relating to the current qualifications landscape be provided to a meeting of this committee in around six months time.

Noted

The Chair referred to the workplan as outlined and detailed in the report.

Resolved that the current workplan be noted.