E   EDUCATION, SKILLS AND TRAINING

1   Pre-school Education

The proportion of three year-olds who receive free early education has risen from 6% in January 2000 to around 47% in January 2002. It is expected that all three year-olds will be eligible for free places (five sessions a week in term-time) by January 2004. Nearly 76% of these places are provided in the voluntary, private and independent sectors (mainly playgroups, pre-schools private nursery schools and daycare) with 24% being offered in school nursery classes.

Free early education is available for all four year-olds and nearly 95% take advantage of it (half-time equivalent usage is 91.2%). Just under 80% of provision for four year-olds is made in reception classes or nursery classes in maintained schools, with just over 20% being provided through voluntary, private and independent sectors.

All children receiving a funded early education place experience a common early years curriculum (the Foundation Curriculum) and settings are subject to inspection by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).

2   Pupil Attainment

Pupil Attainment has improved substantially over the last few years and is now above the national average at Key Stage 2 English and well above average at GCSE level.

2.1   Pupil Attainment as a percentage (figures for England & Wales in italics)

Source: DfEE School Performance Tables/Suffolk Education Development Plan

2.2   Average Points Score for Students Taking 2+ A/AS Level

Source: DfEE School Performance Tables

The DfES has changed the definition used for A level in the table 2.2 above counts only those pupils that took 2 or more A levels and it now takes account of all entrants.

The attainment of post-16 studentss in schools has improved significantly over the last four years and is now braodly in line with national averages at A level. However, performance in post - 16 vocational qualifications (VCE and AGNVQ) is slightly below the national average.

3   Adult Learning

The Suffolk Learning Partnership is a strategic body, funded by central government, focused on developing collaboration and coherence between all those involved in lifelong learning in the county.

Through the Partnership and its relationship with other key bodies, all those with a stake in learning have the opportunity to work together to achieve a wider spread of effective activity than any one organisation can do on its own. The vision is to further develop Suffolk as a learning county able to:

• Bring about a cultural shift in attitudes about the value of learning

• Empower individuals to articulate their needs and define and achieve their ambitions

• Enable individuals and communities to reach their cultural, social and economic potential

The Partnership consist of three streams:

1. The Network – an association of organisations that recognise their shared remit in widening participation and delivering quality learning experiences.

2. The Subgroups – brought together from a wide variety of organisations to inform strategy and develop and deliver action plans to address the priority areas.

3. The Board – charged with harnessing the knowledge and expertise of the Network and Subgroups to set the strategic direction.

The focus of the Partnership is the Learning Plan. This sets out the strategic direction and provides a framework for activity across five priorities:

• To increase young people’s participation in learning, raise aspirations and increase attainment.

• To widen adult participation in learning and promote skills development and attainment.

• To increase equality of learning opportunities and encourage achievement for all.

• To promote best practice, innovation and improved standards through provider collaboration.

• To encourage and support partnership working.

The Learning Plan, more details about the Partnership and news and events can be viewed at www.suffolk-learning-partnership.org.uk.

3.1   Learning Targets

National and regional targets have been set by Government to encourage attainment.

Source: National Targets: National Learning Targets for England for 2002, Annual Report 2000, DfEE.
Regional & Suffolk Targets: Government Office East of England

Suffolk Targets

Targets for Suffolk have been agreed by the Partnership with Government Office East of England.

Young People

Adults

Adult Work Based Training

The Suffolk TEC Adult Training Programmes offer help to unemployed adults with poor employability skills to move into sustained employment with the skills and personal attributes employers require.

Skills Plus – provides opportunities to update existing skills or retrain with new skills, working towards recognised qualifications required by the modern workplace.

• 783 adults started training during the year

• 305 NVQs were achieved

• 209 gained employment or took up self-employment

Basic Employability Training – provides basic and life skills training.

• 241 adults commenced BET during the year.

Basic Skills

Throughout 1996 and 1997 The Opinion Research Business (ORB) undertook a series of surveys to estimate the basic literacy and numeracy skills in selected local authorities in England. This research was undertaken on behalf of the Basic Skills Agency, which is the national agency for basic skills in England and Wales. A total of 17 surveys were conducted comprising over 8000 interviews. The results of this research have been used to predict the percentage of the population with poor basic skills in every district council authority (DCA), unitary authority (UA) and parliamentary constituency in England. Predictions have been made for every ward within English DCA/UAs. There are some concerns at extrapolating the information in this way across the county. The information has therefore not been included but is available on CD-ROM from the Basic Skills Agency (£25 plus VAT) (Tel 020 7405 4017).

4   Continuing Education

The destination of Suffolk students is assessed every year, these figures are for students who completed their GCSE or A’ levels in June 1999. The statistics were compiled at an ‘as at date of 1/ 11/ 99’. It covers all state and special schools in Suffolk. It does not include data from the independent sector. The numbers for each group were 6967 Year 11 pupils and 2603 Year 13 pupils.

Participation in post-compulsory education has steadily improved with over 70% of young people now involved in education beyond the age of 16.

4.1   Participation in post-16 education

Source: SCC Education Statistics and DfEE

Connexions Suffolk

Connexions is a new government initiative to provide joined-up advice, guidance and support for young people (13-19 year olds), creating partnerships with families, schools, colleges, statutory services, employers, voluntary and community services and young people themselves. Connexions Suffolk, launched in September 2001, is the first Connexions Service in the eastern region, building on the expertise and good practice of the former Suffolk Careers Service.

4.2   Destinations of Yr 11 leavers from maintained Suffolk schools 1997-2000

Source: Connexions Suffolk, 2001

4.3   Destinations of Year 13 leavers from maintained Suffolk schools 1995-2000 (by Cohort %)

Source: Connexions Suffolk, 2001

4.4   Suffolk year 11 leavers entering employment by occupational sector, 2000

Source: Connexions Suffolk, 2001

4.5   Year 13 destinations from Suffolk schools in 2000 - By occupation

Source: Connexions Suffolk, 2001

Pie charts 4.4 and 4.5 show the differing occupactional sectors year 11 and year 13 enter on leaving education. Almost 3 times as many year 13’s enter administration, finance and clerical than year 11’s.

Youth Work Based Training

It is important that all young people who do not participate in full-time, post 16, further or higher education develop the skills to equip them for employment. Youth training schemes provided by Suffolk Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) include:

• Modern Apprenticeships

• National Traineeships

• Training Credits

4.6   Entrants to Youth Programmes, Proportion by Scheme

Source: Suffolk TEC Annual Report 2000

Modern Apprenticeships – designed to equip young people with the skills necessary to become technicians, junior managers and supervisors. Skills are learnt within the workplace.

• 1,109 young people commenced Modern Apprenticeships

• 792 NVQs achieved

• 100% of those in training were employed

National Traineeships – designed by employers for employers, National Traineeships have become increasingly popular and offer vocational training at NVQ Level 2 over a two year training programme.

• 1,348 young people commenced National Traineeships

• 313 NVQs achieved

• 78% of those in training were in employment

Other Training – The Training Credits programme continues to offer vocational training opportunities to young people who have left full time education.

• 448 young people commenced Other Training

• 719 NVQs achieved

• 68% of those in training were in employment

UCAS University Admissions

This information hasn’t been included due to the small numbers but is now available by ward on www.statistics.gov.uk/neighbourhood/home.asp.

5   Absenteeism

Attendance in Suffolk schools continues to be good in comparison with the national average, although the county figures mask some particular problems at individual schools and with individual families:

5.1   Unauthorised Absence

Source: Audit Commission
* 1999-2000 these figures were not recorded as the Audit Commission changed the collection methodology, but reverted back for 2000-01

6   School Exclusions

Permanent exclusions from primary schools are rare and in line with the national average. Exclusions from secondary schools (including middle) are more common, and priority is being given to reducing exclusions in the current year.

6.1   Number of permanent exclusions (per 1000 pupils)

Source: Audit Commission

7   Special Needs Provision

An emphasis on inclusion has led to steady decline in the proportion of children educated in special schools.

7.1   Special Needs Requirement (as a Percentage)

Source: Audit Commission
*A new basis of calculation was introduced in 1998

• The number of maintained statements of special educational need (as at 18th Jan 2001) was 3652 Children with statements have significant special educational needs.

• The total number of children in Suffolk with statements special schools was 795 (18th Jan 2001).

• The total number of Suffolk children with statements placed in special schools outside the Local Education Authority (LEA) was 126 (18th Jan 2001).

Source: Education Department, SCC.

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