Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills

In July 2015 the Government published a policy statement which set out how they intended to facilitate the restructuring of the post-16 education and training sector, through a series of Area Based Reviews of provision which were led on behalf of the Government by the FE Commissioner.  The Review commenced in Staffordshire in February 2016 and the final report was published at the end of November.  The implementation of the Review recommendations would be supported by a national restructuring fund of £570 million which institutions could access provided they met the published criteria.

The aim of the Review was to ensure that there was sufficient capacity to meet the needs of students and employers in the area and to take steps to improve the financial sustainability of colleges in the future.  At the time of the Review both Stafford College and Stoke-on-Trent College were subject to Financial Notices of Concern from the Skills Funding Agency.  The Review covered both FE and Sixth-Form Colleges, but did not include School Sixth Forms.  A steering group, chaired by the FE Commissioner, was convened to oversee and steer the Review’s work. Membership included representatives from the LEP, Local Authorities, DfE and Department for Business Innovation and Skills, and Chairs of Governors from each institution in scope for the Review.  However, the approach taken by the FE Commissioner across the Country was to seek consensus on any recommendations with the governing bodies of individual institutions required to sign off the final recommendations.

The following were identified by the Review as key areas for change:

• resolving the position of Stoke-on-Trent College, and seeking to ensure that all colleges in Staffordshire are on a strong, sustainable financial footing;
• rapidly improving quality at Stafford College and ensuring that planned changes at Burton and South Derbyshire College deliver improvements in time for their next Ofsted inspection;
• growing apprenticeship provision, and responding to the LEP and employers in relation to need for higher level skills, improved work-readiness, and better quality of information, advice and careers guidance;
• supporting the LEP and the local authorities in ensuring a good match between post 16 provision and the identified skills needs, job opportunities and future growth in priority sectors;
• boosting the educational levels of residents and the economic success of Stoke-on-Trent; and
• to consider how colleges can increase and improve provision for high needs students, in response to the needs identified by Staffordshire local authority, specifically the needs of learners with social, emotional and mental health and severe learning difficulties, and to develop an offer based around employment focused, internship type provision.

The Steering Group agreed the following six Review recommendations:

• Newcastle-under-Lyme College and Stafford College to merge to form a single college;
• City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College to pursue academisation;
• Burton and South Derbyshire College to remain stand-alone;
• South Staffordshire College to merge with Walsall College to form a single college;
• Stoke-on-Trent College to develop an appropriate option to secure sustainability, in collaboration with local partners, by end of October 2016; and
• The formation of a new strategic forum involving the LEPs, local authorities and colleges to monitor progress and provide oversight of the implementation of the Review’s recommendations.

It was agreed that the quality of the buildings was not a guarantee of success, and that quality of teaching was what impacted on Ofsted inspections.  The Cabinet Member  for Learning and skills commented that when the finances were right, and the right leadership was in place this was conducive to the recruitment of good quality lecturers.

Members were reassured that the intention was to offer a full curriculum at Newcastle-under-Lyme College and Stafford College, and in the main they would manage their own catchment areas.  Similarly, there was no suggestion that provision would be affected in Tamworth by the merger of South Staffordshire and Walsall Colleges.  However concern was expressed over the travel consequences for Tamworth students potentially having to travel to Walsall, in terms of both distance and costs.

Members requested further information on the numbers of students at each institution who were affected by the Review, which had taken catchment areas and travel into account. 

English and Maths remained an issue for Colleges, and members were informed that Stoke-on-Trent College, the City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College and the University were having discussions about the 14 – 19 offer across the city.  There was also a concern that an appropriate option had not been confirmed for Stoke-on-Trent College.

RESOLVED – That:

a)    the Prosperous Staffordshire Select Committee note the outcomes and recommendations of the Post-16 Area Review and the anticipated impact on Staffordshire residents; and

further details on the numbers of students affected by the Review be requested.