Caerphilly 14-19 Network

Dot Powell

14-19 Education Manager

Caerphilly CBC

The national and local contexts:WALES 2001 The Learning

Country 2002 Learning Pathways 2003 LP Action Plan

(associated legislation)

2005 Chapman Report

2006 Learning Country 2

CAERPHILLY 2001 surplus places

issues 2002 6th Form

rationalisation 2003 3 local partnerships

formed 2004 Alignment of school

day/timetable 2005 some common

timetable blocks 2006 Cross-partnership

blocks agreed for 2007 2007 Common timetable

(post 16) in operation

LEA initiatives 2005 Sept : 14-19 conference – Peter

Hawthorne (Unanimous support from heads) 2006 Feb: Council decision to establish and

fund 14-19 unit 2006 May: Head of 14-19 appointed 2006 Sept: 14-19 Unit established 2007 Jan: Deputy in post 2007 Sept: Other key staff appointed

Why 3 Partnerships? Geography

Islwyn

Rhymney Valley

Caerphilly Basin

Why 3 Partnerships? Diversity 7 11-18 community schools 1 11-18 welsh medium school 1 11-18 foundation school 5 11-16 community schools 4 SLEs 1 special school 2 FE colleges + ‘in employment’ or ‘not known’ (total 14-19 cohort = 10,000 young people)

Principles, protocols and systems Annually reviewed Joint planning processes/DEPNET All partners included, even against the

historical grain No private deals Mutual trust and transparency Give, as well as take Central support for administration and transport

Outcome

Caerphilly Basin

Bedwas

St Cenydd

St Martins

Islwyn

Pontllanfraith

Oakdale

Blackwood

Newbridge

Risca

Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni

Cwmcarn

Trinity Fields

Ystrad Mynach College

Coleg Gwent

(Cross Keys)

SLEs

Rhymney Valley

Rhymney

Heolddu

Lewis Pengam

Lewis Girls

Gwynllyw (Torfaen)

What have we done so far? Built on three established area partnerships

through regular meetings of Heads, College Principals and key staff.

Developed county-wide network of curriculum managers (DEPNET) to strengthen links between partnerships

Analysed options menus to identify gaps and planned additional provision

Agreed common timings and timetable blocks to support the collaborative options menu

 

2. Conducted PASS surveys (Pupil

Attitude to School and Self) in all secondary schools, and used results to help target personal support;

Rolled out the Welsh Baccalaureate in each partnership

Agreed cross partnership protocols for funding, exam entry and transport

3. Collected and analysed information on

student performance;  Provided targeted Learning Coach support in

20 learning settings (and produced an impact assessment); 

Planned strategies (with the YPP) to re-engage the NEET group; 

Worked with the FE colleges to develop a COMPACT for Looked After Children to guarantee a post–16 place

4.

Provided (from Sept 2007) equal opportunity of options choice post 16 borough-wide, and equally increased choices post-14 for all students 

Enabled over 1000 learners to access additional learning opportunities, leading to recognised qualifications, away from their base school

 

5.

Produced Partnership prospectuses Introduced a common system of Basic Skills screening Surveyed student perceptions of collaborative

provision (QDP) Developed a Quality Framework for use in partnerships Developed a ‘Learner Entitlement Statement’

 

Mon Tues

Wed Thur Fri

FIRST

SESSION

SECOND

SESSION

OPT OPT OPT OPT OPT

A D C E B

OPT OPT OPT OPT OPT

B E A D C

What We’ve Done

Year 12 Blocks

Before Choice of only 12 subjects at AS/A

Level in some schools Very small classes in some subjects Little opportunity to follow

vocational subjects in schools Very little cooperation between

schools and colleges A culture of competition

After Choice of more than 40 subjects at As

level in ALL schools and colleges Opportunity to rationalise small classes More vocational subjects being offered

across the partnership – more being developed

Schools and colleges beginning to see themselves as real partners

Culture of competition being replaced by one of cooperation for the benefit of all students AND organisations

Challenges Considerable cost of transport Logistics of transport Students time spent travelling Effect of blocking sixth form

timetable on rest of school Funding arrangements difficult for

some schools

Positives Students have more choice Schools and Colleges now working

together for the benefit of students Schools and Colleges working

together to develop shared courses Students gaining from new

experiences in other schools

What does this mean for students?

One school’s option choices post-16 Sept 2006

PE

Art

Music

English

Health and Social Care

Chemistry

Welsh

Geography

Maths

Design Technology

Computing

IT

12 Subjects

What does this mean for students?The same school’s option choices Sept 2007

1 Archaeology (Evening)2 Art3 Art and Design4 Biology5 BTEC Construction6 BTEC First Diploma in Business7 BTEC Sport8 Business Studies9 Chemistry

10 Contextual Studies11 Design Technology12 Drama13 Electronics14 English15 Film Studies

16 French17 Geography18 Geology19 German20 Government and Politics21 Graphics22 Health and Social Care23 History24 Home Economics25 Information Technology26 Italian27 Law28 Leisure Studies 229 Mathematics30 Media Studies

31 Music 32 Music Technology33 PE34 Performing Arts35 Philosophy36 Photography37 Physics38 Psychology39 Religious Studies40 Sociology41 Spanish42 Sport and Physical Education43 Welsh

43 Subjects

September 2008 FE College to block A level options

in same pattern as schools FE college to offer pilot, part-time

vocational courses at Level 1 and Level 2 (Aerospace engineering, Retail and Public Services)

Further vocational courses being offered by schools at KS4

DEPNET (School and College Curriculum Managers)

ANDP

Caerphilly LAN

Area Partnership

(Islwyn)

Area Partnership

(Caerphilly Basin)

Area Partnership

(Rhymney Valley)

Heads Strategic

Group

Pastoral Heads Group

Curriculum Deputies

Group

Heads Strategic

Group

Pastoral Heads Group

Curriculum Deputies

Group

Heads Strategic

Group

Pastoral Heads Group

Curriculum Deputies

Group

Chair of 14-19 LAN

Principal YM College

Director of Education and

Leisure

Principal Coleg Gwent

How are decisions made?

Conclusions

14-19 reforms will require a partnership approach if success is to be achieved

Partnerships are not born, they are made: therefore active partnership building is essential

What we’ve learned

Things that help to promote healthy partnership include:

TrustMutual understandingFair sharingEmbedding partnership cultureEmpowering staff

What we’ve learned

Things that undermine good partnership working include:

CompetitionPoor communicationConflicting valuesFailing to give and take

Making the most of partnerships

3 key areas:

Relationships and behaviour

Skills for partnership working

Structures

Relationships and behaviour Interpersonal relationships count Understand each other’s

organisations Build trust and shared interests Accept ‘proper selfishness’ but not

selfish self-interest

Skills for partnership working Leadership Trust Learning Managing for performance

Structures Financial management Data collection and management Communications Conflict resolution (‘wobbles’ will

happen)

What have we learned? Learn from the experiences of others A steering group with representatives

from every institution is essential, with a co-ordinator accountable to the group

Building links between timetables is the starting point for collaboration.

Address and resolve funding and transport issues as early as possible

Feel good about the benefits to learners