Transcript Patrick Leeson

Improving Outcomes for Learners
Post 16
Patrick Leeson
Corporate Director
14 – 24 Strategy
Our ambition is for all young people in Kent to
become better qualified and more employable; to be
able to participate and achieve success in education
and work based training at least until the age of 18;
and to ensure more 18 to 24 year olds can access
higher learning or sustained employment that is
appropriate to their needs and relevant to the local
and national economy.
The Strategy
Our strategy is designed to achieve a fundamental shift in
the education system in Kent, towards a more
comprehensive academic and vocational offer for young
people aged 14 to 24 and to make the changes needed to
build a learning and skills system fit for the future.
This means more rapid development in Kent whereby the
work of schools, colleges and employers become better
integrated and responsive to the needs of young people
and the economy, and young people have access to the
highest quality and levels of 14-19 education and training
Key Areas of Focus in 14-24 Strategy
• to raise attainment and skill levels
• to improve vocational education, training and
apprenticeships
• to increase participation and employment
• to target support to, and improve outcomes for,
vulnerable young people
Attainment by Age 16
It is a significant challenge for the Kent economy
and the education system in the county if nearly
half of all 16 year old boys are not educated to a
standard that would enable them to access an
apprenticeship or progress to many of the
vocational and academic pathways that are
available post 16
Attainment by Age 16 in 2013
• Approximately 65% achieved five good GCSE grades
including English and Maths
• Approximately 86% achieved five good GCSE grades
A*- C
• Approximately 70% achieved GCSE grades A*- C
• in English and Maths
• 75% schools improved or maintained their GCSE
performance
• Approximately 4500 students with attainment below
level 2
Attainment by Age 19
• The number of young people achieving Level 2
Qualifications by the age of 19 through school sixth
forms and FE colleges is in line with similar areas
• 2+ A levels at A*-E (96%) is in line with the national
average and improved on 2012 (92%)
• 3+ A levels at A*-E (47%) is below the national average
(52%)
• Too many 16-19 year olds (13.6%) spend two years on
courses and achieve no improvement in their Level 2
qualification.
Attainment by Age 19
• The standards and skills achieved by young people aged
19 from low income backgrounds are below the national
average and the gap (32% in Kent compared to 25%
nationally) between outcomes for the most vulnerable 19
year olds is not closing quickly enough.
• This significantly reduces their employability and access
to apprenticeships and other vocational qualifications,
compared to young people from more advantaged
backgrounds.
The Scale of the Task
We are enormously challenged, still, to ensure all
young people achieve the levels of literacy,
numeracy and IT competence required for a skilled
job in the modern economy. We are also
challenged to develop the range and diversity of
vocational courses required to ensure all young
people’s aptitudes and interests are developed for
their future sustained employment in a world of
work that is innovating fast.
Kent’s position
In Kent we have specific shortcomings.
• the lack of clear progression and extension to post
16 learning and higher level vocational
qualifications
• the mismatch between some of the courses and the
needs of local businesses
• the limited attention to level 2 literacy and
numeracy qualifications in some programmes
• the lack of flexibility in working arrangements
between schools and other providers
These are all priorities for improvement as part
of this strategy.
Not in Education, Employment or
Training
The NEET figure for Kent continues to fall, with 5.1% of
16 to 18 year olds at the end of the last academic year
not in education employment or training. This compares
to 6.3% in 2012.
The number of young people who are not known has
shown the most significant decline to 1.9%. This out
performs all the other South East local authority areas. It
is an impressive result especially as we move to the
implementation of Raising the Participation Age for 17
and 18 year olds.
One of our key priorities is to do more to support all
young people aged 16 to 18 to access appropriate
learning pathways or employment with training.
September Guarantee
16 year olds
The figures for the September Guarantee are
significantly improved on last year. In July 2012, 28%
of 16 year olds had no offer of learning or
employment with training, compared to 16% in July
2013. This figure is now 12% and will reduce further,
which means there are 2335 students aged 16
currently without a post 16 offer. Targeted work is
taking place with this group to ensure they have a
learning or training destination in the coming weeks.
September Guarantee
The figures for 17 year olds are also improving, but
are higher. In July 2012, 34% of 17 year olds were
without an offer of further learning or employment
with training, compared to 26% in September 2013.
This means there are 4677 young people aged 17
currently without a clear learning or employment
destination, which is a concern. This reflects a
continuing high drop out rate at age 17, which we
must address with more effort in partnership with
schools and colleges.
Apprenticeships
We continue to expand the opportunities for Apprenticeships.
There are currently over 303 apprenticeship starts employed
within KCC and over 145 schools have also taken on their own
apprentices. We have also placed over 430 unemployed 17 to
24 years olds in an apprenticeship scheme in recent months.
This work, through the Kent Employment Programme in the
Skills and Employability Service, has made a major contribution
to reducing the number of unemployed 18 to 24 year old young
people by 1300 from this time last year.
Overall there are currently 2011 apprentices aged 16-18, which
is a decrease on the previous year, but we expect this figure to
show substantial improvement when the next figures are
published in November.
Ofsted Inspection Summary 2012-2013
In Kent 70% of schools are now good or
outstanding. This includes 75% of Secondary
schools, 68% of Primary schools and 80% of
Special Schools.
This represents a significant increase on the 59% of
schools rated good and outstanding just over a
year ago, and 55% 2 years ago. 21 schools do not
have an Ofsted judgement at present. Kent’s
percentage improvement in schools moving to good
in the past year is 11%.
Ofsted Inspection Summary 2012-2013
In Kent 16% of schools are outstanding and 54%
are good, compared to 20% outstanding and 58%
good nationally. Our priority is to close the gap with
the national picture, and exceed it.
Currently there are 141 (24%) mainstream schools
requiring improvement, excluding Pupil Referral
Units. This is a significant improvement compared to
September 2012 when there were 211 (37%)
Primary and Secondary schools requiring
improvement.
Ofsted Inspection Summary 2012-2013
There are 20 schools in an Ofsted category, which is the
same number as in September 2012. While 11 schools
successfully came out of category in the past year 15
schools were judged to be inadequate by Ofsted. Our
aim is to ensure no Kent school goes into an Ofsted
category of concern.
One of our biggest challenges now is to ensure every
school requiring improvement becomes a good school
within the next two years, and that we continue to work
together in partnership to ensure no good and
outstanding schools decline.
Key issues to improve outcomes
• A strategy to improve English and maths A* - C equivalent
outcomes for all 16-18 year olds
• More high quality vocational options including apprenticeships
which need to be promoted more actively
• Commitment to deliver quality independent advice and guidance
about options and progression routes
• Delivery of vocational qualifications which better match the skills
gaps in the local economy
• Improve and get pathways and progression right for all learners
to address high drop out rate at age 17
• Improve employability skills and develop more meaningful
employer engagement in 16-18 curriculum
• Deliver advanced apprenticeships
Some questions
• How effective is the provision in meeting the needs of all
learners, are learners on the right pathway and how do you
know?
• What are the destinations of all learners, to higher level
qualifications and into employment?
• How well are assessments made of learners’ starting points,
pathways and progression to achieve the best outcomes?
• How good is the support for vulnerable learners to succeed and
for students who decide to or have to change their pathway?
• Is the right provision available to ensure level 2 attainment in
English and maths?
• Is the assessment and tracking of students ensuring their
progress over time is monitored from initial starting points?
• And is there meaningful work place experience available and
coordinated well to support their learning and skill development?