PAPER E2

 

 

                                                                                                              Purpose : For Decision

                        REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE

 

Date :              17 DECEMBER 2002

 

Title :               HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL REVIEW OF POST 14 EDUCATION AND TRAINING ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

                       

REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

                           

                        IMPLEMENTATION DATE : 6 JANUARY 2003

 

 


SUMMARY/PURPOSE

 

1.         In early October 2001 the Local Learning and Skills Council for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (LLSC) established a Task Group under the chairmanship of Professor Sir William Taylor to formulate recommendations for a collaborative and integrated approach for planning and resourcing Post 14 education and training on the Isle of Wight, and to set out recommendations for consideration by the LLSC and the Local Education Authority (LEA).  To inform and assist the work of the task group the LLSC also commissioned the international consultancy group KPMG to undertake a review and assessment of the Isle of Wight’s Post 14 educational and training needs.

 

Professor Sir William Taylor and Mr Neal Bawden (Project Manager KPMG) presented their reports to the Select Committee for Education Community Development and Lifelong Learning, copies of which were circulated to all Council Members.  The reports were considered by the LLSC at their full Council meeting on 23 January 2002.

 

A recommendation from the Select Committee was considered by the Executive Committee on 26 February 2002 when the following resolutions were agreed:

 

(i)         THAT the establishment of a Tertiary Strategy Group in partnership with the Local Learning and Skills Council as contained in the report of the Isle of Wight Fourteen-Plus Task Group be approved

 

(ii)        THAT the view on the increase in membership as discussed by the Select Committee be noted.

 

As part of these discussions it was also agreed that the consideration should be given to formative and formal consultations on the KPMG options for college and school re-organisation.  It is on the matter of consultation that the executive committee are asked to make a decision.

 

BACKGROUND

 

2.1       The History

 

            In 1993 the Isle of Wight College was removed from LEA control and became a free standing corporation.  Competition and market forces were promoted by the government and there was a subsequent erosion of trust between the schools and the college.  Organisational change and the full impact of delegated budgets in schools resulted in a decline of the college roll and growth of school sixth forms.  In April 2001 the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council (LLSC) took responsibility for the funding of all post 16 provision including school sixth forms.  In October 2001 the LLSC invited the LEA to cooperate on a full review of post 16 education and training on the Island.

 

2.2       Key Issues

 

            The issues prompting the review were several:

 

·        The need to ensure high quality educational and training entitlement and opportunity for all post 16 students

·        Concerns surrounding the quality of provision at the Isle of Wight College and independent training providers

·        The viability of current provision with regard to potential total student numbers and new funding arrangements

·        The need to secure improved levels of attainment and retention to complement high levels of participation in full time education and training.

·        A questioning of the efficiency of the three tier system.

 

2.3       Isle of Wight Area Review

 

            In the summer of 2001 the LLSC commissioned Terry Melia (former Chief Inspector of Further Education) to conduct an initial review of the post 16 provision on the Island.  The Melia review confirmed the key issues with the question of viability as main concern.  The LLSC commissioned the full review under the chairmanship of Sir William Taylor in the Autumn of 2001.  The Taylor Report was augmented by the review from KPMG.

 

            Four options were proposed:

 

            1.         Increased collaboration and  integration of provision between all providers within the current organisational structure.

 

            2.         Creation of a post 16 tertiary college with 4 – 11 primary and 11 – 16 secondary schools.

 

            3.         Expanded middle schools 9 – 14 with  4 – 9 primaries, 14 – 18 high schools plus College.

 

            4.         Expanded high schools 11 – 18 with 4 – 11 primaries and a college.

 

2.4       The Context: Autumn 2002

 

·        The Isle of Wight College, under new leadership, is making significant progress in respect of quality of provision.

·        During 2002 several policy statements were issued by the Department of Education and Skills:-

 

Ø      14 – 19 – “Extending Opportunities and Raising Standards”

Ø      Further Education – “Success for All”

Ø      Education and Skills – “Investment for Reform”

Ø      Education Act 2002

 

            The central theme in these policies is coherent and co-ordinated 14 – 19 provision to raise standards of attainment and provide opportunity for all.  The Island’s three tier system is well placed structurally to meet this agenda.

 

·        The funding implications for options 2, 3 and 4 are substantial in capital and revenue terms (see Appendices 1 and 2) and would require the Council to enter into a complex Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

·        Adoption of options 2, 3 or  4  would require complete re-organisation of the Islands’ schools and disrupt education provision for five to ten years jeopardising attainment.

·        Re-organisation would have significant capacity requirements for the Education Directorate to manage and implement the re-structuring.

 

2.5       Action to Date

 

·        A Tertiary Strategic Group (TSG) has been established under the chairmanship of Sir William Taylor and constituted in line with the Executive recommendation of 26 February 2002.  The group has met monthly since March 2002 and in partnership with the LEA  and LLSC has achieved the following:

 

Ø      Headteacher/College Principal/Governor group established for strategic advice and consultation.

Ø      LEA inspector with specialist 14 – 19 brief appointed by the LEA in September 2002.

Ø      Professional Working Group established consisting of senior high school and college staff and co-ordinated by the LEA inspector with 14 – 19 responsibility.

Ø      All partners have agreed to jointly fund a 14 – 19 co-ordinator post to be appointed in early 2003.

Ø      A successful £150,000 bid for transport provision to assist collaboration.

Ø      A common marketing and recruitment policy has been agreed and implemented by the High Schools and College.

Ø      Special School re-organisation with enhanced post-16 provision will be implemented in September 2003.

Ø      A full audit of post 16 provision across the Island has been completed resulting in plans for 20% timetable integration for ‘A’ Level provision from September 2003.

Ø      An initial appraisal of the KPMG options has been completed – see Appendices 1 and 2.

 

2.6       Next Steps

 

            Several Inspections are pending for 2002/03 including:

 

·        The Isle of Wight college

·        Two High Schools

·        An Area Post 16 Inspection

·        An Adult Learning Inspection

 

            The outcome of these inspections will provide significant evidence for the LEA, LLSC and DfES, and advise future planning.  A recent visit by Margaret Hodge, Minister for post 16 Education, confirmed high level interest in the Isle of Wight Review and progress.

 

            It is important that stability is maintained through this period and the work of the TSG is supported to facilitate effective collaboration.  To engage in a large scale consultative process at this time would demand significant resources from the Directorate and de-stabilise the education community at a critical point.

 

3.         STRATEGIC CONTEXT

 

A decision to give continued support for collaboration and the work of the Tertiary Strategic Group and defer consultation would further the strategic objectives for Education and Learning in the Community Plan, the Corporate Plan and the Education Development Plan, Service Plans and the Education and Community Development Strategic Plan.  It would also support the national policies detailed above in 2.4

 

4.         CONSULTATION

 

            The following groups/bodies have been consulted on the options and recommendations:

 

·        The Tertiary Strategic Group

·        High School Headteachers

·        Middle School Headteachers

·        Primary School Headteachers

·        High School Governors Group

·        Connexions Local Management Committee

·        Teacher Unions and Associations

·        Select Committee Members (informal meeting and Education Partnership Group)

·        Island Teacher’s Council

·        Standards and Effectiveness Unit (DfES)

·        Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council

 

            All have agreed with the recommendations as stated.

           

5.         FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

 

            There are no financial implications arising from the decision.  Continued support for the TSG and collaboration falls within the current budget as would costs of conducting a consultation.

 

6.         LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

            The decision can be made within the statutory powers of the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act as amended by 2002 (July) Education Act.

 

7.         OPTIONS

 

7.1       THAT the Executive continue to support the work of the Tertiary Strategic Group in achieving enhanced collaboration and integration of provision for post 16 education and training.

 

7.2       THAT the Executive decide to defer consultations on the KPMG options in the LLSC review.

 

7.3       THAT the Executive decide to implement full formative and formal consultations on the KPMG options in the LLSC review.

 

8.         EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT

 

            Options 7.1 and 7.2 are being recommended to enable the work of the TSG to progress to achieve the original objective of enhanced collaboration between post 16 providers on the Island.  Option 7.3 is not being recommended as the process of consultation could cause uncertainty and de-stabilise the current collaborative work as supported by the consultations detailed in paragraph 4.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

To adopt options 7.1, 7.2

 

9.         BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

·        Education, Community Development  and Lifelong Learning Committee Report and minutes of 23 January 2002.

·        Executive Committee report and minutes of 26 February 2002.

·        Fourteen Plus Task Group Report – LLSC January 2002.

·        Review and Assessment of the Isle of Wight’s Post 14 Educational and Training Needs – KPMG report January 2002

·        Isle of Wight Education Development Plan 2002 – 2007

·        Success for All – DfES 2002

·        14 – 19 Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards 2002 DfES

·        Education and Skills: Investment for Reform 2002 – DfES

·        2002 Education Act

·        1998 School Standards and Framework Act

 

10.       ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

            Appendix 1: 14 – 19 Review Curriculum Analysis Options

            Appendix 2: Capital Implications of the Taylor Report

 

Contact Point :           David Pettitt   823400 [email protected]

 

 

 

D PETTITT

Strategic Director

Education and Community Development

 

 J WAREHAM

Portfolio Holder for

Education and Lifelong Learning