Issue - meetings

The government has recently carried out a review of further education provision in Wiltshire as part of a national post-16 area review process.  Wiltshire College was the only provider in Wiltshire to be included in the 2016-17 Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire review.

Included is a report to inform the committee of the findings and recommendations from the government review of local further education provision which was completed earlier in 2017.

Members are invited to comment on the report prior to Cabinet considering it at its meeting on 7 November 2017.

A report was received informing the committee of the findings and recommendations from the government review of local further education provision which was completed earlier in 2017.

The government has recently carried out a review of further education provision in Wiltshire as part of a national post-16 area review process. Wiltshire College was the only provider in Wiltshire to be included in the 2016-17 Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire review. Findings were positive in that the College's curriculum delivers to the priority sectors identified by the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) whilst maintaining provision in all areas where there is employment demand in the region and beyond, such as construction, health and tourism.

Ariane Crampton, Head of Employment and Skills, explained in response to questions from the committee that the scope of the government report did not cover keeping children in county. Outcomes included in the final report of Children’s Select Committee’s Post-16 Task Group was noted as covering this topic in detail.

Members of the committee noted that the issue of Post 16 education was wider than just Wiltshire College, and that it would be good to learn why they move out of county. It was noted that it was quality of education in county which drove children out of county.

Resolved

To note the recommendations included in the Post-16 Area Wide Review

To highlight the concerns raised by the committee in relation to item H in the report - public transport