Annual Network Development Plan

Wrexham ANDP 2010

Appendix 1

Wrexham 14-19 Network

Annual Network Development Plan

2010 – 2013

3 Year Strategic Priorities

Section 1

3 Year Strategy 2010-2013

Section A: Where are we now?

Our vision remains as described within the 2007/08 and following Annual Network Development Plans (ANDP):

• Raising the aspirations of learners and setting the foundation for Lifelong Learning
• Improving opportunities for achievement to all young people; supporting the culture and success of our young people
• Maximising support for young people; ensuring young people are able to make informed choices
• Widening of opportunities within learning pathways to secure bilingualism and equality of opportunity for all
• Working strategically with partners to ensure sustainable outcomes and collaborative approaches for the benefit of young people

In this document, we outline the progress of the Wrexham 14-19 Network (the ‘Network’) in realising the vision stated above, taking into account national drivers and Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) priorities.

We believe that, through collaboration, Network partners have made significant improvements for the benefit of learners aged 14 -19 in recent years. We are now looking to consolidate and improve further the quality of our current provision as well as working together on the challenges to ensure appropriate provision for future learners. These challenges include further improving the entitlement offer to all learners, ensuring sustainability and using resources to best effect. In these respects, the Network is mindful of the potential impact of the national economic downturn on public sector budgets and the changes that may need to be considered as part of the Transformation programme. This document outlines our vision for 2010 – 2013 but we are aware that we shall need to review our plans regularly taking into account the resources available.

National Drivers:

14-19 Learning Pathways Policy

The Network has actively developed all 6 key elements of Learning Pathways. In particular, we have been successful in implementing initiatives to create Individual Learning Pathways and to secure wider choice and flexibility for learners. The Network acknowledges that the Learning Core element requires further focussed attention.

In respect of support mechanisms, Learning Coaching is well embedded in all schools and YaleCollege as well as in several other learning settings. Information from Careers Wales North East (CWNE) confirms that provision of Careers Information, Advice and Guidance is working well. ‘Of 3000 Year 11 learners surveyed across Wales, 96% of young people surveyed said that the Careers guidance interview had helped inform their decision about their Career and Learning choices’. There are examples of outstanding practice in some of the elements of Personal Support but the Network recognises that further co-ordination and cohesion are required in terms of the planning and deployment of Personal Support to secure a fully consistent level of service to maximise impact.

Learning and Skills Measure (Wales)

The Network has been proactive in developing wider choice and flexibility of individual Learning Pathways for both pre and post 16 learners. All students at Key Stage 4 (KS4) have an entitlement through the courses offered, both at their own setting and collaboratively, that exceeds the targets prescribed by WAG. In addition, the Network offers a comprehensive programme for learners with additional learning needs and disabilities.

A common option block is offered in post-16 settings and the profile of courses offered is on track to meet the 2011 roll out.

Drivers from Transformation Policy

The formation of the Wrexham Learning Partnership Board (LPB) in 2008 (as prescribed by WAG), has provided the mechanism to formally review the current organisation of post-16 education and training within Wrexham County Borough. In the first phase of activity, with the approval of the Executive Board of Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC), the LPB commissioned an initial feasibility study on the options for consideration. Phase two of activity, as requested by the Executive Board, is to further investigate and identify associated costs of the options. The Wrexham LPB is working in conjunction with Denbighshire LPB in respect of developing proposals for learners living in South Wrexham and the Dee corridor, including Ysgol Dinas Bran, as approved by WCBC’s Executive Board (29th September 2009).

The LPB has agreed a challenging timescale in which to complete phase two, with recommendations to be placed before elected members in January 2010.

Welsh Language Strategy

The North Wales’ 14 – 19 Networks have formed a Strategic Bilingual Group to explore and enhance collaborative Welsh-medium provision across the region. A joint North Wales Networks conference, scheduled for November 2009, will share findings and consider next steps. In addition, the North Wales e Learning Network has highlighted, as a priority, the need to consider the implications of WAG’s Welsh Medium Education Strategy for regional working.

Locally, Wrexham local authority and the Network actively support the Welsh Medium Education Strategy. The Network has formed a Welsh Medium and Bilingual Sub Group to ensure the strategy is implemented with operational and measurable impact.

Regional Drivers:

Relationship to National Learning and Skills Assessment (NLSA)

The Network fully recognises and embraces the extended identified NLSA priorities. It has consistently ensured that provision meets the needs of the local economy and has worked with the local authority to ensure a synergy at county borough level. The recent broadening of the priorities is acknowledged, although the Network recognises that the breadth of priorities now highlighted nationally, makes the local dimension even more critical in terms of flexibility of provision and “curriculum flexibilty”.

Labour Market Intelligence

The membership of the Network and the LPB benefits from the inclusion of Wrexham Economic Development officers. This resource provides extensive labour market intelligence relating to the predicted indicators within the county borough and surrounding geographical areas. In addition, Careers Wales and the schools continue to provide information relating to destinations. Combined with county economic data, this enables the Network to ensure appropriate provision, for example, the WinterCollege for potential NEETs and Hospitality courses to meet the continued expansion of the sector within the county borough.

Sector Skills Data

The Network recognises that the level of consistent engagement with all appropriate Sector Skills Councils has been less than ideal. However there are examples of robust relationships in sector clusters, for example, in Performing Arts, IT and Retail which have worked well and where provision is offered to pre and post 16 learners

The Network has established solid relationships with WCBC Economic Development Officers and exploited the use of market intelligence as and when appropriate via this link. The Network welcomes any support offered by the SSCs in relation to the formation of provision linked to the evidence of sector data.

Local Drivers:

NEETs – Local Strategy

Wrexham has a substantial NEETs cohort which has exceeded that of neighbouring counties for the past three years. A number of strategies have been pursued to reduce the size of this cohort. However the Network acknowledges that in order to significantly reduce the numbers of learners subsequently categorised as NEETs, initiatives must have greater impact. Some pilot work took place during the Summer term 2009, with results expected during late October.

WCBC has highlighted reducing the number of NEETs as a corporate priority. The Network has also accepted NEETs as a priority. A WCBC project board has been established to oversee the strategic development and co-ordination of partnership initiatives. A “Reducing NEETs Task & Finish Group, a sub group of the Children and Young People Framework Partnership, (CYPFP) has also been formed.

Learner Demand (Curriculum)

Surveys of learner demand were undertaken in the autumn terms of 2006 and 2008 to assist with the further development of the collaborative curriculum. This exercise (learners in schools, colleges, WBL and NEETs were canvassed) proved to be accurate in the identification of learner choices. A further survey was carried out with those young people accessing the programmes for those with additional learning needs to ensure that their offer met expectations. The surveys also identified the need to offer provision, post 16 that will secure the engagement of NEETs.

Schools are currently looking at extending shared provision and expertise within and across small clusters in some minority subjects, in order to improve the learning experience and to secure enhanced value for money.

Learner Need (Support)

The Network is committed to supporting learners to access learning in formal, informal and non formal settings.

Support is provided through many different avenues including:

• Learning Coaching
• Student Assistance Programme
• Youth Work in Education
• NSPCC
• CWNE programmes and interviews
• Winter and SummerCollege
• Team Around The Child which links all support mechanisms for an individual with a lead practitioner

Evaluations demonstrate that, individually, the programmes above secure successful outcomes. However the Network acknowledges that a co-ordinated strategic approach to the deployment of appropriate support and implementation should improve results. WCBC is about to embark on a mapping exercise of all personal support strategies across all settings irrespective of funding streams in order to ensure a more cohesive approach to provision and improved value for money.

Network Structure:

Network Structure and Membership

Network group membership is attached .

The Sub Groups for Learning Coaching and Personal Support are in the process of being merged with a new independent Chair to further develop support strategies across the Network. The Executive Group has been extended to include a representative of the Wrexham Association of Secondary Headteachers; with Quality Champions attending meetings to provide updates. The Bilingual Sub Group is developing well with links into the North Wales Strategy.

Collaborative Working Arrangements

The 14-19 Curriculum Group meets regularly to address Learning Pathway issues. In addition post 16 providers (The Maelor School, Penley, Ysgol Rhiwabon, Ysgol Morgan Llwyd and YaleCollege) meet 3 times a year to discuss and action shared needs in terms of the post 16 collaborative offer. Schools also meet in 3 geographical clusters to consider additional collaborative provision at KS4.

Potential Links with Transformation and any local reorganisation arrangements

Within Wrexham transformation is likely to involve 2 separate language strands. The Welsh Medium Education Strategy is likely to be cross Networks but maintaining local links with YaleCollege. The English medium strategy may involve cross Network links with other authorities and work based providers. Within Post 16 provision, there is already significant cross Network collaboration via YaleCollege.

YPFP

The YPFP Chair sits on the Network. In addition the Network Chair, Network coordinator and LEA 10-19 Officer are also members of the YPP.

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Wrexham ANDP 2010

Strategic Analysis of the current position

• Improving performance at level 1,2 & 3 thresholds
• No permanent exclusions
• Wide choice of options at KS4 & 5
• Diverse and inclusive membership of Network
• Strong commitment to collaboration
• Common core membership between Network and LPB to secure cohesive approach towards transformation
• Curriculum flexibility to take account of local needs
• KS4 Learning & Skills Measure achieved
• Post 16 developments targeted to achieve 2011 requirements
• High level of Learning Coach support
• Robust LPB
• Strong cross Network and LEA input
• Well developed WFE programme
• Strong cross Network links for e learning and Welsh medium curriculum

• Low numbers returning to full time education post 16
• Low progression rates to HE
• High numbers of NEETs in comparison to North East Wales and all Wales figures
• Low educational aspiration of young people
• High numbers of fixed term exclusions
• Further work required on rationalisation and increased benchmarking of pre and post 16
• Further work needed to develop the Learning Core
• Need to ensure impartiality of advice and guidance

• Prescribed transformation timeline fails to recognise local needs
• Expanded NLSA makes it difficult to target regional need

• Continued developments of cross network collaboration i.e. Welsh Medium, Learning Coach, VLE
• Invite increased engagement by SSCs
• Continued consideration of NLSA requirements into the development of provision, with continued access to current labour market intelligence
• Implementation of School Effectiveness Framework
• Improved self evaluation mechanisms linked to new Estyn Framework and Quality Champion developments
• Improve the feedback mechanism for WBL developments via NTF

• Impact of continued reduction in funding for FE and WBL
• Limited engagement of Wrexham employers in NE Wales Employers Forum
• Lack of progression/political desire to implement transformation changes
• Limited range of Qualifications available in Welsh
• Failure to agree and implement transformation strategy may lead to WAG intervention
• Distance between WM settings
• Impact of a continued economic downturn in relation to:

• Failure to financially embrace collaborative provision at institution level will lead to narrowing of provision post 2010-2013
• Uncertainty of Skills Centre funding will impact on strategic vision
• Rationalisation post 16 and potential impact on institutions

• Change in policy due to altered political steer
• Uncertainty as to level of funding post 2013 for 14-19 cohort
• Failure to ensure continued VFM, quality of delivery and enhanced learning experience as a result of withdrawal of funds post 2013.
• Impact of reduction in WAG budgets for revenue and capital via RSG

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Wrexham ANDP 2010

Conclusions of the Analysis:

The Wrexham Network needs to consolidate and extend as appropriate:

• Cross Network collaboration and strategies
• Learning Pathways, Wider Choice and flexibility that is fully congruent with economic demands
• The mapping , development and entitlement to the Learning Core and skills agenda
• Learning Coach, Personal and CIAG Support
• Need to continue to improve examination results
• Commitment to collaboration and implementation of outcomes of transformation process.
• Raise the aspirations of young people
• Continue to support the needs of all learners including those with additional needs and more able and talented learners
• The sharing of good practice
• Strategies to lower the percentage of NEETs
• The usage of Careers Wales On Line Learning Pathways to record achievements and develop an ILP
• Progression post 16 including onto HE

The Network acknowledges that key developments informing the revised strategy are as follows:

• Outcomes of the Transformation Strategy
• Sustainability post 2013
• Enhanced SSC links
• Engagement of WBL providers and local employers
• Ensuring VFM
• Ensuring Impartiality
• Ensuring quality provision in teaching and learning
• Cohesive approach to support
• Impact of economic downturn

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Wrexham ANDP 2010

Section B – Where are we going?

Strategic Priorities

In order to formulate our priorities for 2010 – 2013, the Wrexham 14-19 Network held a workshop during September to review the Strategic Priorities identified for 2007-2010.

Part of this review involved close examination of achievements to date as well as the identification and consideration of national, regional, local and network drivers. This process culminated in the refinement of our original 5 priorities (identified in 2007) evolving into three strategic priorities for 2010 – 2013.

Furthermore, the Network determined that the following be considered as cross cutting themes, within all priorities:

• Welsh Medium provision
• Equality of Opportunity
• The Faith Dimension

Strategic Priority 1 (SP1)

Consolidate and improve further the quality and impact of current provision and continue to develop and improve strategies to raise aspirations and improve learner engagement, participation and achievement in all settings.

Strategic Priority 2 (SP2)

Continue to strengthen the Learning Core and develop the options menu to give wider choice and progression routes to all learners aged 14 – 19 to meet the requirements of The Learning and Skills measure.

Strategic Priority 3 (SP3)

Continue to develop support mechanisms across the three support strands for all young people in all settings, working in collaboration with YPP

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Wrexham ANDP 2010

Section C

How will we know if we get there?

Strategic Priority 1 (SP1)

Consolidate and improve further the quality and impact of current provision and continue to develop and improve strategies to raise aspirations and improve learner engagement, participation and achievement in all settings.

Strategic Priority 2 (SP2)