Contact: Paula Garvey, Inspector/Adviser for Partnerships, Telephone 07985 621867, [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report outlines Hampshire's proposal for the delivery by 2013 of the entitlement for all young people to 14-19 education and training. This includes the plan for the roll out of the 14 (17)¹ diploma lines.

1.2 Successful roll out of the 14-19 entitlement will support the corporate priority of maximising well being by developing higher skilled, better qualified and more motivated young people. The local authority also seeks to promote the link between the qualification reforms, the wider skills, extended services, and the range of services within the youth offer. Achieving better health and reducing anti social behaviour and criminality will also support the corporate priority of making `Hampshire safer and more secure for all.'

2 Recommendations

That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)

a) Supports the work of 14-19 consortia in preparing for the introduction of diplomas and

b) Approves the preparations for the strategic roll out of 14-19 diplomas across the county leading to a 14-19 education plan to be completed by 2008.

3 Background to 14-19 Reforms

3.1 The Education and Skills White Paper (DfES, 2004) and the subsequent Implementation Plan (DfES, 2005) set out the scale of 14-19 reforms and enshrined them in law in the Education and Inspection Act 2006.

3.2 The Leitch Report, "Prosperity for All in the Global Economy: World Class Skills," published in December 2006, built upon Tomlinson's 2004 recommendations for 14-19 year olds and a range of government reports have had a common aim of improving outcomes for this age group and addressing the existing and expanding skills gaps in the UK economy.

3.3 Proposals to extend the age at which young people leave education or training, initially to 17 in 2013 and then to 18 in 2015, have implications for the numbers on roll in schools and colleges and the diversity of the curriculum required to engage them.

3.4 The Executive Lead Member for Children's Services report, `Further Developments in post 14 Education and Training,' dated 11 October 2007, also sets out progress towards meeting 14-19 reforms and 14-19 funding mechanisms.

3.5 Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced on 23 October 2007, that the government intends to introduce three more diploma lines in science, languages and humanities from 2010, to postpone the review of A levels from 2008 until 2013 when the entire 14-19 curriculum will be reviewed, and the announcement that 17 and 14 new diploma liens will be offered to the 14-19 age range of students.

4 14-19 Infrastructure

4.1 14-19 Strategic Board and Strategic Fora

The 14-19 Strategic Board in Hampshire reports directly under the Children and Young People's Partnership Management Board (CYPPMB), on which a number of education and training providers are involved, share a common membership. The CYPPMB will oversee and ensure the implementation of Section 4.19 of Children and Young People's Plan which relates directly to 14-19 education and training.

4.2 Following the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) letter to the Director of Children's Services, DCSF, 22 August 2007, which stated that the 14-19 Strategic Board will have a pivotal role in developing 14-19 education plans. Consequently, the already established 14-19 Executive, has agreed to broaden its membership to include headteacher and college principal representatives, representatives of work based training providers and the voluntary sector. In the longer term this will be extended to include representatives of higher education institutions (HEIs), youth offer and the independent sector. The wider membership will enable it to:

- fulfil its duty to plan how it will work locally to bring together providers to deliver the entitlement in the best way for each local area.

- look at demand and supply, identify gaps in provision, and how they may be filled

- addressing logistical issues arising from collaboration including transport and

- work through how funding will be deployed to support consortia to deliver diplomas.

4.3 Funding

Funding allocations will be made using this 14-19 strategic education plan and the outcomes of each successive Diploma Gateway process.² From 2008-2009 14-19 Strategic Partnership, which is responsible for 14-19 strategic education policy, will also be represented on the Schools Forum to ensure that decisions are consistent with area plans. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) letter states clearly that 14-19 Partnerships will need to develop a local strategy for achieving Diploma entitlement by 2013, across all providers, based on an assessment of local demand and supply.

4.4 Local Strategic Fora

There are nine 14-19 consortia in Hampshire and the county is divided into three local authority areas, (North, South East and Western areas), each with its own 14-19 Area Forum with the chairperson and consortium coordinator of each of three local consortia represented on it. There area fora meet termly to discuss matters relating to 14-19 strategy and implementation. Each area forum acts both as a sounding board for discussion on implementation issues affecting a number of consortia as well as a conduit for communication to and from the 14-19 Strategic Board.

4.5 Local 14-19 Consortia

In Hampshire there are nine local consortia who need to develop their own local 14-19 strategic plans for the roll out of all diploma lines by 2013 and these plans will clearly need to show how these diplomas will be introduced in each travel to learn area. Several consortia are also investigating the legal and governance issues around `harder' collaboration models using the Collaboration Regulations (Education and Inspections Act 2006) so that funds can be transferred from the 14-19 Strategic Board to consortium budget holders.

5 14-19 Curriculum

5.1 No individual institution will be able to offer all 14 (17) lines by 2013 and so curriculum frameworks will need to be developed in travel to learn areas. Schools, colleges and training providers will build on their strengths and develop diploma provision in areas where they already have expertise. They will have the freedom to decide which course they will provide themselves and which, if any, of these courses, they will offer to students on the rolls of other institutions.

5.2. However it will be vital for the local authority and Learning and Skills Council for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to identify gaps in provision in order to have an overview in order to ensure entitlement for all.

6 14-19 Facilities and Capital Developments

6.1 From December 2007, the DCSF requires all Gateway submissions to show evidence of alignment with their local LA and LSC capital planning and to make use of devolved capital in schools' budgets. A capital planning sub group has therefore been set up to look at and align the needs of longer term capital planning and to assess the Gateway bids by diploma line on behalf of the 14-19 Strategic Board. It is also hoped to publish information to assist consortia in developing capital bids. Many consortia are working closely with the Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in the county which links providers, employers and the wider community. Several schools in Hampshire are developing secondary or additional vocational specialisms and they will work with CoVEs, colleges, training providers and skills centres to develop vocational provision across the curriculum and to work with and support other schools locally to do so.

6.2 Ensuring there are sufficient facilities for all 14-19 diploma courses is critical. The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in Hampshire, which is expected to begin in 2011/12 will work to transform the entire secondary school estate and plans need to demonstrate that they will make a contribution to implementing 14-19 reform. There is also a 14-19 capital fund for new provision including the sixth form presumption. Several consortia in Hampshire are now looking to develop both pre and post sixteen vocational skills centres in order to provide better access to 14-19 opportunities. Ensuring capital plans are not only of high quality but also that the facilities developed meet the needs of the learners in an area and not just of institutions, will be a priority.

7 14-19 Diplomas and Funding

7.1 The Executive Member report, 11 October 2007, set out in detail the County Council's proposals for funding diplomas and this was approved by the Schools Forum in October 2007. More details of 16-19 funding will also be published in the LSCs Annual Statement of Priorities in October

8 The Wider Entitlement

8.1 By 2013 every young person in a school or college in Hampshire will have an entitlement to pursue any of the diploma lines at an appropriate level for them wherever they are in the county. Ensuring that all courses are available in the local areas will be responsibility of the local authority in relation to 14-16 year olds and currently that of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in relation to 16-19 year olds. Schools will be responsible for ensuring all 14-16 year olds on their roll have access to the full entitlement.

8.2 In addition to the diplomas, schools in Hampshire are required to continue to develop and broaden the range of qualifications available to young people at key stage 4 and to examine the implications for Key Stage 3. Hampshire schools now have the opportunity to access a range of work based learning options, applied GCSEs, NVQ, other vocational qualification and apprenticeships. By working with the LSC, the LA will continue to build on and develop a wide variety of progression routes and pathways.

Access to personal, learning and thinking skills, (PLTS) and a range of additional specialist learning (ASL) is also a cornerstone of the 14-19 reform. The Foundation Learning Tier (FLT) work will provide a useful reform of all qualifications below Level 2 and provide a rationalisation of qualifications below that level so that there is true access and progression for all. The Foundation Learning Tier work is currently under pilot in Portsmouth City area in the south east of the region.

9 Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)

9.l Young people have increasing demands for a wider range of high quality impartial information, advice, guidance and information about sector skills shortages and the local labour market if they are to progress and find economic activity and to contribute to the wellbeing of the county. This information, advice and guidance needs to be individual and student centred, based around the needs of the individual and the progression pathways appropriate to him/her. This will require a high degree of personalisation and support and the integration of the use of data and tracking and recording mechanisms. Integration of a whole range of systems will be required to achieve this, and several consortia in Hampshire are already piloting a piece of integrated software which combines, personal, social and health education (PSHE), personal planning, careers education and information, advice and guidance.

9.2 Area Wide Prospectus

The Hampshire area wide prospectus will provide all young people and their carers and advisers with an independent, on line web based directory of all the education and training opportunities available to them in a given area. It will be possible to search by institution, course title, level or area of learning and will also offer a raft of general educational and careers information.

It will also be able to provide useful management information reports showing interest in diplomas, by subject, level, and area and this information will be invaluable to the medium and longer term strategic partnership planning and commissioning of provision. There will be links to the Apprenticeship on Line an LSC contract currently managed by Connexions Southcentral.

10 Workforce Development and Leadership Training

10.1 Ensuring the right staff with the right skills are in place is pivotal to the successful delivery of this 14-19 programme. Existing teaching staff who wish to teach diplomas and functional skills are being prepared for this through a programme of professional development being delivered by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and Quality Improvement Agency. Many consortia are also taking advantage of the training afforded b the Learning Skills Network, National College for School Leadership (NCSL) and the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL). In addition to this Hampshire Teaching and Leadership College (HTLC) has a programme of staff development for schools leaders of the future. The Teacher Development Agency (TDA) is looking at the courses of initial teacher training to examine the provision for future cohorts of teachers and many consortia are taking advantage of coaching and mentoring courses on offer.

11 Employer Engagement and WRL

11.1 Access to high quality contextualised learning opportunities, work related learning and work experience is essential if the new diplomas are to be a success. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has recently published a review of work related learning on its website, and the LSC is devolving funds to the 14-19 Strategic Board in order to encourage more local arrangements for the planning and coordination of Education Business Link Organisations (EBLO) utilisation. Consortia will be encouraged to develop collaborative employer engagement and work related learning (WRL) strategies and policies.

12 Connexions and Youth Support

12.1 The transfer of Connexions funding to the local authority from April 2008 will enable the Hampshire to provide a holistic service to all young people which is aimed at supporting them to stay in education, employment and training by offering early intervention. This increase in participations, motivation and support will have a beneficial effect on those at risk of disengagement at key stage 4. A county wide working party made up of LA, LSC and Connexions has developed a NEET (not in education, employment or training) action plan which aims to increase retention, participation and achievement. Each consortium is actively developing its NEET strategies.

12.2 The September Guarantee also aims to ensure all young people in Year 11 receive the information, advice and guidance they need to apply for the most appropriate post 16 provision. By making each young person an offer at the end of September of a place of learning that takes into account the level of provision required by the young person , its location and occupational sector and learning methods, and recording it, young people who do not have an offer can be identified and given ongoing support to make applications. By using this September Guarantee data, the 14-19 Strategic Board can also ensure that there are sufficient and appropriate learning places to meet the needs of young people in the local area.

13 Strategic Roll Out of Diplomas in Hampshire

13.1 Hampshire's strategic plan for the roll of diplomas will need to respond to the needs of learners, not just individual institutions. The 14-19 Strategic Board is charged with ensuring that the right pattern and mix of provision can meet current needs and future priorities, and that it is of high quality and offers value for money. The LA and LSC will therefore seek to support Gateway and capital applications that do not duplicate provision or introduce inefficiencies into the provider network, and only those which take the county nearer towards the 2013 entitlement for all.

13.2 In order to create a more responsive infrastructure which more directly offers a better choice for young people, HCC officer will continue to ask Consortia to submit their expressions of interest and plans for diploma roll out each year in October prior to the annual quality control assessment or `Gateway.' In future years this is likely to be linked to the annual progress check assessment carried out by Government Office of the South East (GOSE) in October each year.

13.3 Consortia have been consulted this year and have indicated their plans for 2008-2009 roll out through Gateway 2 , together with current evaluations of longer term roll out as indicated on the attached grid (Appendix 1). Although these longer term aspirations are not binding on Consortia as circumstances may change, as indicated by the sudden and unexpected announcement on 23^rd October by the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, it is essential that the 14-19 Strategic Board are able to plan a pattern of provision most likely to secure the best outcomes for all young people to meet the entitlement. By agreeing on the scale and nature of the local challenges, the two bodies can carefully consider where resources need to be focussed and can decide together how best to purchase or provide (commission) those services, including drawing in alternative providers and wider opportunities to increase provision.

13.4 The Executive Member is asked to approve this approach to capturing and planning the roll out of diplomas and the wider 14-19 entitlement as this builds up year on year. As consortia clarify their future plans, the pattern of roll-out will be amended accordingly.

13.5 The 14-19 Strategic Board will also develop and extend joint commissioning from aligned budgets and resources where gaps in delivery are identified. The Strategic Board will offer both challenge and support to develop the necessary infrastructure to meet our statutory remit under the 2006 Education and Inspections Act. All proposals for Diploma lines will in future be reviewed by the 14-19 Strategic Board or a body with devolved responsibility in order to ensure that the entitlement is met.

14 Consultation

14.1 Hampshire County Council works in partnership with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council and Connexions South Central as well as with neighbouring authorities in planning and developing 14-19 provision across the county. It also consults widely with three strategic area fora on matters relating to 14-19 education and training. The Hampshire 14-19 Strategic Board has been extended in order to consult more widely with all stakeholders involved in education, employment and training.

15 Legal implications

15.1 The DCSF is currently considering developing terms of reference for the 14-19 Strategic Boards and developing further guidance on local governance and legal guidance for local consortia collaboration.

16 Financial implications

16.1 The financial implications of 14-19 implementation, as far as they are currently known, have been covered in the Executive Member Report, 11 October 2007. When further information becomes available, for example the LSC Statement of Priorities, including details on the support for planning and funding functions for all 16-19 learning, a further discussion of DCSF advice will be held. There will be implications for local governance and the devolvement of funds to consortia including funding for transport and there are plans to investigate this further with several consortia.

17 Personnel implications

17.1 In order to deliver the full 14-19 entitlement, consortia in travel to learn areas may share staff and currently consultations are underway with the Teachers' Liaison Panel and HCC Human Resources (HR) to explore the implications for impact on teaching strategies such as student behaviour.

18 Impact assessment

18.1 Race and equality impact assessment has been considered in the development of this report. Progress for all has been identified in the recent Joint Area Inspection (JAR) as an area of priority and discussions are currently underway with the LSC and Connexions to ensure the roll out of the Foundation Learning Tier, to provide more SEN provision post 16 including residential care, and more flexible provision for those in care, at risk of disengagement or those from minority or ethnic groups such as traveller families, unaccompanied asylum seekers, minority communities and to ensure access in rural area to the full entitlement.

19 Crime prevention issues

19.1 The underlying intention of government 14-19 reforms is to improve the skills, education and employability of all young people and to reduce anti social behaviour and criminality. Full implementation by 2013 is expected to have a positive impact on crime prevention.

20 Views of the Local County Councillor

20.1 The key aspect of 14-19 reform is equality of opportunity as a result of county wide roll out. The views of individual County Councillors have not, therefore, been sought.

21 Conclusion

21.1 The proposals in this report are intended to maximise well being and to help make Hampshire safer and more secure for all in support of the County Council's corporate priorities. The proposals are also in support of all five outcomes of the Children Act 2004. Progression beyond 16 currently remains linked to a young person's background. Ensuring that opportunities and support are available for every young person to achieve at schools and to progress affects safety, health and economic well being as well as enabling them to make a positive contribution to their communities now and in the future.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background documents

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

NB: the list excludes

1. Published works

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

None