In connection with the Committee’s ongoing theme of Youth Unemployment, the Committee will have the opportunity to scrutinise the work of a selection of Secondary Schools across the District regarding the support they offer their students in terms of Careers advice.
Mr John Kingdom of Queen Elizabeth High School
Mr David Miller of the Gainsborough Academy Gainsborough
Mr Willars of De-Aston School (tbc)
will be in attendance to each give a presentation aimed at answering the Committee’s previously prepared questions, detailed in Appendix A to this agenda.
This will be followed by a period of supplementary questioning from the Committee
Written responses have been received from Caistor Grammar School and these have been provided to Members under separate cover.
Minutes:
In connection with the Committee’s ongoing theme of Youth Unemployment, the Committee had the opportunity to scrutinise the work of a selection of Secondary Schools across the District regarding the support they offered their students in terms of Careers advice. Mr John Kingdom, Assistant Head Teacher at QEHS, and Mr David Miller, Principal at TGA, were in attendance to answer the Committee’s previously prepared questions, by way of presentations and a period of supplementary questioning.
The questions which had been posed were as follows: -
· What steps do you take to ensure relevant career’s advice is offered to your pupils and how do you measure its effectiveness?
· What links do you have in place to provide effective work experience for your pupils and what relationships do you have with businesses to provide suitable exposure to employment opportunities for your young people?
· What positive actions do you take to raise the aspirations of all pupils with regard to both academic and vocational qualifications and how do you measure their effectiveness?
· What efforts do you make to track the progress of pupils once they have left school and what use is made of any information you collate?
· What do you think are the key issues facing young people in securing relevant and sustainable education, employment or training opportunities and what more could the education system do to address these?
The Chairman welcomed Mr Kingdom to the meeting and invited him to make his presentation to Members.
Mr Kindgom outlined to the Committee the various activities that were undertaken with students commencing as early as year 8 to demonstrate the multi-faceted approach which was taken. The Committee were advised that the high school had been through the process of applying for the Career Mark, whilst the application was not submitted due to cost, this had proven to be a good audit exercise and confirmation had been received, that the application if submitted would have been successful. This was a useful tool in assessing the effectiveness of the activities offered. Surveys were also undertaken with students as a way of measuring effectiveness and the results used to change the programme going forward. Examples of this were offered.
In response to Members’ questions Mr Kingdom outlined the principles of Young Enterprise to the Committee, advising on the opportunities it gave students and the real life experience it offered. The scheme was considered invaluable and offered a good replication of working life.
Mr Kingdom demonstrated to the Committee the positive actions taken to raise the aspirations of all pupils with regard to both academic and vocational qualifications and stressed that boundaries, guidance, rules on behaviours and clear expectations at the outset undoubtedly contributed.
The arrangements in place to provide effective work experience for the pupils were shared with the Committee together with the existing relationships with businesses that were in place to provide suitable exposure to employment opportunities for young people.
In conclusion, Mr Kingdon indicated that the three main things he considered affected pupils’ success in securing employment currently were: -
• Lack of suitable employment in the local area.
• Lack of funding for IAG in schools.
• Lack of family support/role models.
Members asked a number of questions of Mr Kingdom and in response were advised that around 35% of the students came from across the river, the ratio was determined by the County Council, however, as a local Grammar school, any child living in a 9 mile radius and passing their 11+ would secure a place. Struggling children received extra support and the school would not give up on them. The decision to remove a child who was struggling would be parental choice rather than a school suggestion. It was noted that the Grammar school were working more in partnership with TGA and a number of ongoing initiatives aimed at raising aspirations and easing the transition into 6th form were outlined. Whilst most students at the high school were given access to mock interviews, not all students were, due to capacity and resources, however the preparation for working life module did cover such matters and all students undertook this.
It was acknowledged that raising aspirations in the absence of key role models was vital if a child was to succeed, both schools outlined to the Committee how this was achieved, with this seeming to be a problem particularly relevant to the young people of the Town. Morning assemblies aimed to motivate and it was acknowledge that exposing young people to as much real life experience as possible was critical in these circumstance.
Mr Miller then made his presentation to the Committee, answering the same questions which had been posed to Mr Kingdom. It was noted that a new behaviour system had recently been implemented, aimed at creating the right setting for working life, this was proving a positive step and noticeable differences were being seen.
He shared with the Committee a raft of initiatives which were in place to raise aspirations and provide students with experience in preparation for working life.
Members suggested that both schools make contact with such groups as Rotary and Probus as they often had people who were willing to volunteer to undertake such activities as mock interviews.
Members were provided with details of the Lumen Project, that was being developed.
It was acknowledged that travel costs and the subsidy levels offered across Lincolnshire did impact on people’s choices, and schools continued to lobby on this matter.
All were in agreement that greater data sharing need to be in existence.
In conclusion both schools advised on ways in which the District Council could offer help these included:-
· Taking on Work Experience placements
· Getting involved in Young Enterprise
· Mentoring and Counselling students (currently being undertaken at TGA)
· Identifying businesses that would take students for work experience
· Creation of a careers library within the public sector hub.
Mr Miller placed on record his thanks to the District Council for the support they currently offered and acknowledged that shared working and partnership working brought about benefits for all.
The Chairman thanked Mr Kingdom and Mr Miller for their informative presentations and wished them and their students well for the future.