Agenda item

Director's Update

Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Minutes:

The Board received a verbal report from the Director of Children’s and Community Services.

 

The Board noted the following points:

 

-        The department has been working to ensure that Tomlinson recommendations are discharged via the City Premium Grants mechanism, reflecting Members’ intentions to ensure clear differentiation between CoLAT schools and CoL independent schools;

-        Arrangements to transfer administration of Cultural Partnership work (with a focus on schools with 35%+ FSM entitlement) to the Education Strategy Unit as of July 2023 are progressing at pace;

-        Work is ongoing to deliver supported internships for young people alongside the Dagenham Market apprenticeship project, as well as growing apprenticeships in hospitality, health and social care;

-        Strategies around Education, Creative & Cultural Adult Skills are to be presented to Members during Board Away Days (‘The Big Conversation’);

-        Head Teachers’ Forums have encompassed discussions on the challenges of staff recruitment and retention, and opportunities around Artificial Intelligence;

-        Synergies between the Education Strategy Unit, Adult Skills and Education Service, and statutory education services are strengthening;

-        The CoLC was placed 40th nationally in 2021 among all participating organisations in the Social Mobility Index;

-        The work of the Tackling Racism Task Force will be reported to relevant Corporation committees;

-        On Outdoor Learning and Environmental Responsibility: a network of Environmental leads are to be identified to co-ordinate initiatives in that area; and

-        The Communications and Corporate Affairs sub-committee approved the initial sports strategy report on 19 April 2023 – further information will be circulated;

-        The Education Strategy Unit is now publishing a weekly school news sheet that can be forwarded to outside parties.

 

A Member commented that the 35%+ FSM entitlement criteria for Cultural Partnership applications was high, and asked whether any flexibility was available on that. The matter was dealt with in item 14.