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 14 March 2018 be approved as a correct record.

Chris Sivers gave a brief overview presentation outlining the following areas:

·       5 Main corporate priorities, including the Improving Education & Skills – so that every child and young person in Swansea gains the skills and qualifications they need to succeed in life.

·       Swansea Skills Partnership – terms of reference, opportunities for the development of partnership working and maximising of City Deal opportunities;

·       Recommendation to appoint a Strategic Co-ordinator for Regional Skills for a two year fixed period via a joint funding initiative with Gower College and Regional Skills Partnership;

·       Aims and responsibilities for the new co-ordinator:

·       Progress to date:

She indicated that all the above areas and the issues raised previously by the Committee could be included in the draft Cabinet report on the City Deal Skills that will be presented to the special meeting of this Committee on 23 May 2018.

She referred to the information circulated following the last meeting and contained in the agenda papers which outlined the data for the complete list of courses currently available at GSCE and A level in Swansea.

Members discussed the various courses and provision available across the city and raised the following areas for potential further investigation and discussion:

·       Seems to be a continuation of the “traditional” curriculum in schools and the need to continue to promote STEM subjects, and ensure effective and appropriate career advice is available;

·       Development of a Learning & Earning pathway for young people;

·       Improving co-ordination between the teachers and education professionals from nursery to 6^th form and beyond;

·       Involvement of parents and development of “learning culture”;

·       Need to re-iterate to young people that A levels are the beginning of the working life;

·       Need to improve and align apprenticeships provision, particularly in relation to the city deal opportunities;

·       Introduction of adult “Learning Champions” and “Sporting Champions” to inspire young people to get involved in both education and sport;

·       Issues around the provision of language courses and the availability of enough qualified teachers in certain subject areas:

Chris Sivers outlined that an overview report on the work of the five PDDC’s will be presented to Council in May, and outlined the areas and topics covered and discussed by this committee during the past municipal year that will be detailed and referred to in the report.

The Committee discussed the issues looked at during the past year, and highlighted the following areas, as potential topics for the next municipal year:

·       Inspiring of young people on introduction of “learning” champions;

·       Teaching Training provision;

·       Targeting of support to disadvantaged young people - impact of poverty on learning, those on free school meals, young carers, SEN pupils, NEETs etc

The Chair thanked members for the input over the past year and indicated that the topics raised above would be further discussed at the first meeting of the committee in June, who would then decide on the areas to be looked at in more detail.