PAPER C

 

POLICY COMMISSION ENQUIRY SCOPING DOCUMENT

                                                                               

 

RESPONSIBLE BODY

 

POLICY COMMISSION FOR CHILDREN AND SCHOOL RESULTS

 

ENQUIRY NAME

 

6th form education

REFERENCE NUMBER

 

C1/06

PROPOSED OUTPUTS

 

To identify the way forward in response to the Learning and Skills Council’s proposal to establish a sixth form centre at the Isle of Wight College

RISK

 

High       

Medium

Low

 

PROPOSED DATE OF INITIATION

 

September 6th 2006

PROPOSED DATE OF COMPLETION

 

January 2007

REASON FOR ENQUIRY

 

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) want to modernise the facilities at the Isle of Wight College and, in the light of the Island’s relatively low standards at both GCSE and at A level; intend to include a sixth form centre there. 

 

The Enquiry will gather evidence in order to advise the Cabinet on whether the sixth form centre should provide for all the Island’s sixth formers, with major consequences for school organisation, or whether other options would be preferable.

PROPOSED OUTCOME OF POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

 

To ensure that the arrangements for sixth form education on the Isle of Wight will raise standards of achievement and maximise the life chances of the Island’s young people.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

 

Relevant corporate objectives from the Aim High Change Management Plan:

·         our desire to drive up the educational standards in all Island schools such that our children are performing to the national average standards as a minimum.

·         a schools improvement programme that can be embedded within the current 3 tier system.

 

To receive evidence from stakeholders on:

  • whether the Council accept the LSC’s offer to build a sixth form centre at the College;
  • if so, what size such a sixth form centre should be;
  • whether the Council take the opportunity to reorganise some or all of its schools;

·         other suggestions to raise educational standards.

 

In order to:

·         provide policy options to provide for the Island’s sixth formers to raise their standards of achievement;

·         provide other policy options to raise standards of achievement across other age groups;

 

What will not be included:

 

 

 

 

KEY STAKEHOLDERS

 

·         Parents – through parent governors.

·         Young people – through School Councils, IW Youth Council and Youth MP.

·         Governors – through IW Governors Association and chairs of governing bodies at schools & IW College.

·         Teachers and education staff – through IW Teaching Council and professional associations.

·         Education leaders – headteachers (of relevant sectors) and principal of IW College.

·         Children’s Trust partners – Learning and Skills Council; Connexions.

·         Public sector – through Island Strategic Partnership; Safer Communities Partnership.

·         Transport – through IW Council Transport Manager; Southern Vectis. Quality Transport Partnership.

·         Diocesan Authorities

RELEVANT CORPORATE AND/OR COMMUNITY STRATEGY/IES

 

Corporate Priorities fit:

 

√    Economic development and regeneration

·         Healthier communities and older people

·         Safer communities

√    Children and young people

√    High-Performing Cost-Effective Council

 

Community strategy:

 

√    A skilled and educated Island

 

Every Child Matters :-

 

o        Being healthy

o        Staying safe

√    Enjoying and achieving

√    Making a positive contribution

√    Achieving economic well-being

 

RELATED PROJECTS

 

Post-Joint Area Review Action Plan

 

 

LEAD MEMBER

Councillor Melanie Swan

 

OFFICER INVOLVEMENT

 

Lead Link Officer:   Keith Simmonds,  Head of Policy, Planning and Commissioning,

                               Children’s Services

 

Overview and Scrutiny Team:  Paul Thistlewood and April West

 

 

OTHER RESOURCES REQUIRED

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1 – Evidence to Commission

Appendix 2 -  Background Paper