Agenda item

To receive the report of the Head of the Centre

A report of the Head of Centre informed the Committee on the progress at the Epping Forest Field Centre in 2013, in advance of the more detailed report on 2013, which will come to the Committee in the spring of 2014.

The Head of Centre reported that the services at the Centre had been operating well and were on target to meet the Key Performance Indicators. The deficit which had been predicted had been turned around and the Centre was working in partnership with individual Schools for delivering education services.

The Head of Centre drew attention to the significant improvements that had been made to the toilets and bathrooms at the Centre. He indicated that this had been, and would be, greatly appreciated by him and by staff and visitors. He also welcomed the installation of solar light tubes, light sensors and press taps that will make energy savings and reduce CO2 outputs.

In response to a question by the Chairman on the 22,000 learner experiences taking place at the Centre, the Head of Centre explained that a ‘learner experience’ was defined as an individual coming to the Centre for more than two hours for a taught course.

A discussion took place on the ‘Lessons from Nature Project’ and it was noted that a report would be submitted to the next meeting on the evaluation of the project and whether the Centre matched the EU’s aspirations. It was noted that the project had been externally recognised by the Chief Executive of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom and by AQA.

In response to a question by the Deputy Chairman, it was noted that individual Schools could visit the Forest without having an education service, if the School wished to do so, however the learning experience for students would not be as effective as that provided by the learning facilitators at the Centre.