Agenda and draft minutes

These had been received from Councillor John Ferrett (who was represented by Standing Deputy Councillor David Horne) and from Councillor Steve Wemyss.

There were no declarations of members' interests.

The minutes of the meeting of 7 November are attached for approval.

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of 7 November 2013 be approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 November were agreed as a correct record.

a)            The panel is due to hear from the following witnesses

Alan Brennan, Service Manager Hampshire Learning and Employability,

Catch 22 (briefing paper attached)

Helen Brennan, Head of Student Support Services, Highbury College (briefing paper attached)

Shirley Sliwinski, Co-ordinator for Work Related Learning, Mayfield School

Phil Harris Vice Principal and Oona Taylor, Head of Careers Guidance, Portsmouth College

Kim Rayner, Director of Alternative Curriculum Provision, Admiral Lord Nelson School

Mike Stoneman, Strategic Commissioning Manager, Education - Strategic Commissioning, Portsmouth City Council

Sharon George, Youth Support Commissioning Manager, Children's Social Care and Safeguarding,   Portsmouth City Council                           

b)            Written Evidence

The Business in the Community report "What's the Risk?" regarding employing young adults with criminal convictions can be accessed via: http://www.t2a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/BCT_BIC_A4_ver1-2.pdf

The chair welcomed all guests to the meeting and introductions were made around the table before evidence was given.

(a)          Shirley Sliwinski, Co-ordinator for Work Related Learning, Mayfield School

A paper had been circulated outlining the practices at Mayfield School.  Shirley Sliwinski stressed that their changes in funding had meant that there was less available and there was more responsibility for careers intervention and guidance by schools and she believed that Mayfield were providing a good service.  The school's aim is to ensure that all pupils leave in Year 11 better able to access further education, training and employment or higher education. 

A range of activities include enterprise days in conjunction with Portsmouth University and the Education Business Partnership (EBP) to promote teamwork, leadership, creativity and a 'can do' attitude.  There was also use of business ambassadors to help inspire pupils and enterprise skills are also embedded into the curriculum.  The Ignite group for able and talented pupils mainly promotes the STEM skills.

Mayfield pay for an EBP package with careers advisers coming in two days a week to fit in with the timetable for the Year 10 and 11 pupils and the adviser works with pupils on work placements and goes out to visit them offering a personal service.  There is also collaboration with other schools and attendance at a guidance group chaired by the city council's post?16 education adviser Lyn Exley.

There is a difficulty with responsibility when pupils leave the school to go to college the school is still accountable and it is hard for teachers to undertake this role.  She hoped that relations with colleges continue to develop so that there is a close dialogue when pupils are transferring.  This will take time and meetings to ensure that all are aware of pupils' movements.

The business ambassadors coming in to speak to pupils had been successful in helping overcome barriers and the fear of the future and gave access to speak to adults.  Year 11 pupils have a programme of career interviews and are helped to develop an action plan (run by EBP).  Some pupils are offered extended work placements and the aim was to offer interviews to Year 10 pupils later in the year.

The school has good links with Portsmouth Aviation, offering work experience and some engineering apprenticeships.

The following additional information was provided in response to members' questions:

·         The school welcomes talks by its previous alumni; the colleges will tell the school how pupils have progressed and those that have gone to Russell Group universities.

·         The schools do not just speak to the local colleges but further afield to ensure that the pupils are looking at the right courses to be successful.  Shirley (with the SENCO if appropriate) would visit the college to talk through issues especially where a pupil is "at risk".  The aim is to try to help the pupil choose a course where they can achieve rather than a choice based on friends and therefore early careers guidance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Members have been advised of the rescheduled Apprenticeship Event at Fratton Park on 23 January which would be a useful source of gathering more information on an individual basis.

The Panel's report will start to be drafted in January and a provisional date of 30 January at 6pm should be held in members' diaries for an informal meeting to discuss progress and if further evidence is required.

It was hoped that as many panel members as possible could visit the Apprenticeships Event at Fratton Park on 23 January to gather evidence.

It was asked the a draft report be circulated by email during January and the panel would meet again on Thursday 30 January 2014 at 6pm both to discuss this informally and to formally receive any further evidence.