Agenda item

A strategy for Education and Skills for Buckinghamshire had been developed in 2018 through collaboration and consultation with key stakeholders, with the purpose of implementing continuous improvement in educational provision across Buckinghamshire until 2022.

Following further collaboration and engagement with a wide range of partners, the Strategy had been refreshed to show the progress made and to highlight the priority areas we need to focus on in the future.  The review of the Strategy was timely given the unprecedented period of change and uncertainty that had been experienced due to the Pandemic and wider economic and social events.  The refreshed Strategy provided the opportunity to review and reformulate the vision for education for children and young people in Buckinghamshire.

RESOLVED –

That the updated Buckinghamshire Education Strategy 2022-27 be APPROVED for publication and launch.

A strategy for Education and Skills for Buckinghamshire had been developed in 2018 through collaboration and consultation with key stakeholders, with the purpose of implementing continuous improvement in educational provision across Buckinghamshire until 2022.

Following further collaboration and engagement with a wide range of partners, the Strategy had been refreshed to show the progress made and to highlight the priority areas the Council needs to focus on in the future.  The review of the Strategy was timely given the unprecedented period of change and uncertainty that had been experienced due to the Pandemic and wider economic and social events.  The refreshed Strategy provided the opportunity to review and reformulate the vision for education for children and young people in Buckinghamshire.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education referred to the public consultation process which had been undertaken. She referred Cabinet Members to the five priority areas which were as follows:-

·         Priority 1. Access to and availability of high - quality educational places

·         Priority 2: Preparing our learners to reach their potential as adults

·         Priority 3: Collaborative school improvement to raise standards

·         Priority 4: Embedding a climate of inclusion

·         Priority 5. Supporting the emotional health and well - being of all children and young people

The consultation process confirmed that the proposed priority areas were the right areas of focus. The service area would monitor performance targets against these priorities to ensure that the Strategy was being delivered.

During discussion the following areas were noted:-

·         A Cabinet Member commented that it was essential that young people had transferrable skills, including children with special educational needs and that the education system helped provide a smooth transition period into adulthood.

·         A Cabinet Member asked how many children were missing education and had fallen through the provision gap. In response the Cabinet Member for Children Services and Education reported that it was difficult to be accurate with 88,000 children in total in the education system but that there were probably 1500 children which the Council did not have good accounting for due to various reasons such as they might be travelling or immigrants. There were some young people who had been suspended (only 7 children). There were 150 people Not in Education, Employment or Training.

·         Reference was made to the final priority and extra-curricular activity including school sports, particularly following the covid pandemic. In response Members noted that the DfE had provided mental health support to children in relation to the pandemic which covered 50% of schools including from local and private sources. All schools have access to an educational psychologist with a good referral system through schools. However, schools needed to pick up on pupils individual needs in order to make the referral. A further question was asked regarding the transition from primary to secondary which was supported by the School Improvement Board and Education Strategy Board which included primary and secondary school headteachers who would share data, good practice and documentation.

·         A question was asked about online learning and whether this was being used.  The Corporate Director reported that all children now had face to face teaching in schools. However, with the recent cold weather where some schools had closed they had reverted back to online learning. In connection with that, Members noted that IT equipment distributed through the pandemic had stayed with families to support their learning (about 1000) although further clarification was required on network access. Some equipment had gone to the virtual school e.g. for asylum seekers. There were also local charities who had funded equipment. 

RESOLVED –

That the updated Buckinghamshire Education Strategy 2022-27 be APPROVED for publication and launch.