Hampshire County Council Strategy for Education

Maximising life opportunities through education

This strategy focuses on Hampshire County Council's education vision and principles as the Local Education Authority for Hampshire. It sets out the values and goals that the County Council aspires to in its work with children, education providers, parents, pupils, adult learners, public and voluntary organisations and the wider community.

Comprehensive and inclusive education

Learning throughout life

A range of learning opportunities

Learners who enjoy learning

Recognising different learning styles

The vision

A focus on the learner

Hampshire County Council and the government, through the Department for Education and Skills, share a vision of a comprehensive and inclusive education system in which every learner:

- is given appropriate support to access education fully

- is accorded equal worth and protected from harm

- enjoys learning

- is equipped with the values, knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to live life to the full.

From the earliest years to higher and adult education, learners in Hampshire will be given the opportunities to develop high self esteem, respect for others and positive and socially responsible behaviour, enabling them to play a full and happy role in society.

This will be achieved through a commitment to high standards with responsibilities shared between education providers and learners and the public and voluntary organisations that support. Individuals learn in many different ways and effective learning takes place in a variety of environments. The County Council, working with all education providers, will create a range of learning opportunities to meet individual needs.

A balanced and creative curriculum

Education in Hampshire, at every age, should enable learners to develop as happy, self respecting, creative, skilled, motivated and emotionally literate individuals who enjoy learning and are able to communicate effectively.

A balanced and creative curriculum for all age groups will be challenging and have breadth and depth. It will recognise different learning styles and develop people holistically to achieve to their full potential. It will also develop learners' understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens and members of their community.

Commitment to the community of Hampshire

Education resources for Hampshire

School accountability

Communities valuing education

Highest possible quality of education

County Council Leadership

Partnerships with schools

Development of the workforce

Partnerships with other organisations

Learning everywhere

The community's resources for education

The Hampshire education budget, and therefore the budgets of schools and some other publicly funded education providers, belongs to the community of Hampshire. It is administered by Hampshire County Council. Elected County Councillors represent the views of the community and allocate the available resources to ensure the best outcome for all.

Schools and other education providers funded by the County Council are accountable to the County Council, on behalf of local people, for the service they provide. The aim is for all education providers to be effective and highly valued by their local communities.

Schools and other education providers will be encouraged and supported to use their facilities in ways which best serve their local population and which encourage communities as a whole to value education.

The County Council and Schools

Hampshire County Council has a joint responsibility with schools to enable all Hampshire's children to access the highest possible quality of education and to protect those children from harm. Where necessary this will include appropriate provision for pupils whose needs must be met in different ways.

The County Council will provide leadership to the education community and support self-managing schools while holding them accountable for the quality of education they provide.

The County Council will seek the most effective ways of working with schools, and of enabling schools to work together. This will ensure that the very best practice in all aspects of education provision is identified, validated, and disseminated effectively. The County Council will strive to overcome barriers and to influence legislation to enhance this partnership.

School and County Council staff, governors, elected members and volunteers are highly valued and vital to the delivery of this strategy. The County Council recognises that continuous professional development of the whole workforce is at the heart of the learning school community.

Schools, and their pupils, are supported by a wide range of public and voluntary organisations. The County Council will work to establish the best possible communication and partnership between these varied professions and interests, ensuring responsibilities are clear and that services are provided efficiently.

The County Council and the wider education community

People develop their knowledge, understanding and skills throughout life, before and after school age, and at different times and places, in the community, workplace, college or home. In support of this the County Council will encourage its schools to become centres of learning for the whole community and will work through partnerships to secure funding for appropriate facilities on school sites.

Good education for the whole community

Opportunities outside the school curriculum

Opportunities for the over 14s

Workplace training and development

Family and adult learning

Older peoples' learning

The County Council will use its resources to work with other public and voluntary education providers to ensure that everyone whose work impacts on the community's education provides efficient services, and assumes appropriate responsibilities.

Pre-school education, and the provision of educational opportunities outside the school curriculum are valuable in enabling children to access a full range of educational opportunities. The County Council works with schools and other providers to enable all children to access these opportunities, often in partnership with others, through the provision of pre-school education, parent/carer support, family learning, out of school clubs, outdoor education and study support.

The County Council is committed to providing opportunities for young people to challenge themselves and to find means of education that suit their learning styles and needs. The County Council will encourage effective links with further education and 6^th Form Colleges and employers offering work related and vocational courses. The Youth Service and Connexions will ensure that challenging opportunities and support services are available to young people in schools, colleges and the community.

Through its lifelong learning activities and various partnerships, the County Council will work with employers to ensure the widest possible access to workplace training and development opportunities.

Adult and community learning will be provided through a network of locally managed centres based on school sites and in Discovery Centres and libraries, through funding agreements with community based providers and effective links with the local Learning and Skills Council. Family Learning will continue to be an important part of this support work particularly in helping people to develop literacy, IT and numeracy skills. The County Council will also continue to fund extended school programmes for adult learning, sports and arts developments, childcare, recreational activity and use of school facilities by local community groups.

Learning opportunities for older people are also important, in particular where they can be associated with schools as learning centres and as key factors in the development of citizenship.

Summary

This strategy summarises what the County Council does in partnership with other providers to make education happen in Hampshire. Education is not just about academic achievement and preparation for adult life; it helps communities to be safe, and economically viable. Education is not just about what happens at school: it is a lifelong process. Within this broad vision, individuals matter. The County Council wants everyone in Hampshire to benefit from education throughout their lives.