Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Education Policy Review Committee

15 March 2005

Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) 2

Report of the County Education Officer

    Item 17

Contact: Terry Rath, Education Officer [email protected] 01962 846457

1 Summary

1.1 This report updates the Committee on progress on the County Council's application for a second Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA). The focus is on these aspects of the LPSA application involving the education service.

1.2 The education actions in the LPSA application are focussed on improving attainment and attendance, reducing exclusions and contributing to improved public safety. As such they support the following corporate aims, 1, 5 and 4, maximising life opportunities, improving services and building strong and safe communities. They also support the priorities of the Children Act.

1 Background

1.1 A report to the Committee on 13 July 2004 set out the key differences between LPSA 2 and the current LPSA agreement which runs until 31 March 2005.

    - LPSA 2 should reflect local circumstances and priorities. There is no requirement for national targets. LPSA 2 should reflect the priorities of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) and community strategies, CPA outcomes and local performance information

    - Government will not agree LPSA 2 with the County Council without the involvement of those district councils that are willing to be involved. There is also the expectation that other public sector agencies, community and voluntary sectors and LSPs will be partners. LPSA 2 will still formally be one agreement between government and the County Council.

    - Government departments are committed to greater involvement through the local arms of central government. There is the opportunity for "explorer" partnerships where government works alongside local authorities on specific targets.

    - LPSA 2 returns the same system for pump pricing and a potential reward grant of 2.5% of budgets of the partners in the LPSA.

1.2 Since the July report extensive work has been undertaken with district councils, the community and voluntary sectors and others to develop proposed targets and indicators for the LPSA 2 application. Initial comments from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) have been fed into the discussions to refine targets and indicators.

2 Targets and Indicators

2.1 The main improvement priorities are set out below

    - tackling barriers to recruitment in Hampshire

    - helping people feel safe

    - healthy communities

    - creating an environment to be proud of

    - transport and housing

2.2 Within the main improvement priorities there are twenty targets, of which three are mainly focussed on the education service. Two of the targets are within the tackling barriers to improvement priority and one within helping people feel safe.

2.3 The proposed targets and indicators are set out below:

Tackling barriers to recruitment in Hampshire

Targets

Indicators

1. Raising skill levels amongst the relatively under skilled

    - % school leavers not achieving basic literacy/numeracy

    - % change in 16-19 population and 19+ population achieving NVQ Level 2 or above

2. Raising pupil attainment and staying on rates into post 16 education/training and reducing exclusions and levels of absence in targeted schools

    - % 16 year olds leaving school with 5+ A*-C/A*-G GSCEs

    - % LAC leaving school with 5+ A*-C/A*-G GCSEs

    - % staying on rate of 16/17 year olds into education and employment

    - % LAC staying on into education and employment

    - % attendance

    - % exclusions

Helping people feel safe

10. Reduce % school age children who have personal experience of being a victim of crime in previous 12 months

    - % of young people attending mainstream school who report being bullied, threatened or having something stolen or damaged in school or in areas where they live

2.4 The County Council's LPSA 2 proposal has been submitted to the ODPM. It is expected that discussions with the ODPM about introducing "stretch" into the targets will start in March 2005. Experience from other authorities suggests that it is unlikely that final agreement will be reached before July, ie some six months after submission.

3 County Council Policy Requirements

3.1 Legal Implications - The County Council is able to enter into a LPSA with the Government

3.2 Financial Implications - see paragraph 2.1

3.3 Personnel Implications - None

3.4 Impact Assessment - Race and equality have been taken into account in devising the LPSA improvement priorities and targets

3.5 Crime Prevention Issues - The focus on raising achievement and attendance and minimising exclusion should have an impact on levels of juvenile crime. Specific targets are also concerned with reducing bullying, anti-social behaviour and criminality affecting young people. These are in line with the priorities of the Children Act

3.6 Views of the local county Council - not appropriate

4 Recommendation

4.1 That the PRC notes the progress that has been made in producing a LPSA2 submission from the County Council.

Section D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extend in the preparation of this report.

NB The list excludes:

    1 Published works

    2 Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined the Act.