Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure Committee

Consultation on the proposed Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure

Response from GoSkills

April 2008

Response to Assembly Committee Consultation from GoSKills, the Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport

i) Is there a need for legislation to re-organise 14-19 provision?

There is currently a lack of such 14-19 provision across the UK. In England our response has been fully to back the 14-19 Diploma in Travel and Tourism, for which there is a high level of employer support. It is very pleasing to note that some of this work may be carried forward in appropriate ways in the somewhat different Welsh context. The 14-19 measure we see as a wholly appropriate mechanism to assist us with this aim.

ii) Does the proposed Measure achieve the policy objective or could changes be made without legislating?

There needs to be a statutory basis for 14-19 Learning Pathways as change is unlikely to occur universally by voluntary measures alone.

iii) What are the views of stakeholders who will have to work with the new arrangements?

We are pleased that an amendment is proposed which would allow for Ministers to make amendments to the Learning Domains.

iv) What might be the barriers to delivering the policy agenda and does the proposed Measure take account of them?

The amendment to clarify grounds for a head teacher`s or Principal`s decision on entitlement and to provide for the updating of such criteria appear warranted.The amendment to clarify that clusters of Local Authorities may be deemed to be the local area is supported. Some Learning Pathways in less demandedlearning areas are possibly only capable of delivery on the basis of clusters of Local Authorities.

GoSkills

Concorde House
Trinity Park
Solihull
B37 7UQ

Tel: 0121 635 5520
Fax: 0121 635 5521
Email: info@goskills.org

Response to Welsh Assembly Government Consultation from GoSKills, the Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport

Proposal for a Learning and Skills (Wales) Measure 2008 – Response from GoSkills

Introduction

GoSkills is the Sector Skills Council for Passenger Transport. We represent employers in the following industries: bus, coach, taxi, private hire, community transport, driving instruction, transport planning, allied transport professionals, rail, metro, tram/light rail, airports, airlines, ground handlers and inland waterways. This response is provided in the context of the passenger transport sector.

GoSkills is supportive of the measure proposed. We recognise the importance and value of the Learning Pathways as the foundation for the future. We agree that this measure will improve the offer to young learners whilst also benefiting the economy and the wider community through a more skilled and motivated future workforce.

Our responses to the specific questions posed in the consultation follow.

Local Curriculum

1 Do you agree with the principle of increasing learner choice via co-operation between organisations and through the production of a local area curriculum?

We support this proposal. Increasing learner choice will be motivating for learners and will enable them to sample a wider range of learning options in a wider range of learning locations. We believe that this is an exciting opportunity to bring together learning institutions in widening the offer to young people; it will drive up standards through enabling specialisms and the pooling of expertise.

2 For 14-16 learners registered at maintained schools the responsibility for planning the local curriculum rests with the local education authority and for governing bodies and head teachers to be required to assist the local authority in this regard. Do you agree that the responsibility should lie with local education authorities?

We agree with this arrangement. Central co-ordination by the local education authority will aid collaborative working and will ensure transfer of best practice and consistency in the offer to young people. It will also aid the development of a dynamic menu as it will allow for proactive planning, coherence, gap filling and the opportunity to tackle areas where low entry options may not have been viable for an institution on its own but become more viable across a group.

3 The responsibility for planning the curriculum for learners aged 16-19 rests with Welsh Ministers. Do you consider this appropriate and, if not, why not?

The key issue is ensuring that there is a smooth progression route between 14-16 and 16-19. There is a possibility that learning could become disjointed if a distinct split in responsibilities and approaches emerges. However, it should be possible to build in safeguards to ensure a joined up approach and joint working arrangements.

4 Would the setting of a minimum number of courses contained within the local curriculum in Key Stage 4 and a minimum number of courses for learners 16-19 years old assist in ensuring equality for learners across Wales?

It may be helpful to specify a minimum number of courses. However, it would also be necessary to define “course” and to provide parameters to identify the flexibility within courses eg size of course. Specifying the minimum offer might encourage institutions to work together in the interests of the wider menu.

5 Is it appropriate that the decision as to an individual learner’s entitlement should rest with the head teacher or principal?

Learners need to have access to fair advice in terms of what is available to them and also in relation to their own abilities. Head teachers/principals will be best placed to manage this. However, as the local offer is co-ordinated by the local education authority, it would be sensible to have an appeals process managed by the local education authority for those learners/parents who feel the need to challenge the head teacher/principal’s decision.

6 Do you consider the use of minimum option numbers, allied with the use of learning domains succeed in supporting a workable framework for wider choice for learners in the 14-19 phase?

The proposal appears to enable a wide choice which will be motivational for learners.

7 Is it desirable to set a minimum number of vocational courses that must be included within a local curriculum?

Access to vocational courses is essential. A wide range of courses could be considered as “vocational” and it would be helpful to define what the key criteria should be for vocational courses. It is more important to provide quality in vocational courses rather than quantity. There is an opportunity to link more closely with local employers and with SSCs to develop vocational skills – including specific and transferable skills for the workplace.

8 Should the minimum requirement for vocational courses be specified as having to fall across a range of learning domains?

Generic and cross-sector skills are vital in order to develop transferable skills for the future. Learners should have access to cross-sector skills as well as skills for specific occupational areas.

Joint Working

9 Would the placing of a duty on local education authorities, governing bodies of schools and further education institutions, to consider co-operation be sufficient to achieve the provision of a local curriculum?

It is also necessary to provide guidance and a framework for joint working. There will also be a need to allocate appropriate resources to support joint working eg to enable staff to commit time to travel and meetings.

10 Please identify any barriers to co-operation that may need to be overcome. What possible solutions are there?

One potential issue is transporting young people between different learning locations in order to take advantage of different facilities. This will add costs to learning programmes as well as complexities in time-tabling across organisations - it may make some joint working too expensive to deliver.

Learning organisations will need to work together to agree who leads on different aspects of the learning menu. This may create insecurities and staff will need to be fully briefed and engaged with the benefits and opportunities available from the new working arrangements.

Learning Coach and Personal Support

11 The proposed measure makes provision for youth support services. Will the provision proposed facilitate young people’s access to support services as envisaged within 14-19 Learning Pathways?

This provision will enhance the offer to individuals. It will need to be clear how this support service works with local partners.

Contacts

Further information is available from:

Chris King
Business Adviser – Wales
Chris.king@goskills.org

Vicki Ball
Director of Workforce Development
Vicki.ball@goskills.org