Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

NB – Appendix 1 of this report is to follow.

Members considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services regarding the evaluation of the 2019 London Careers Festival (LCF). The following matters were raised:-

·         The LCF 2019 was considered by Members as a success, meeting almost all of its ambitious targets in its first year. The Festival was well attended and effectively targeted at the hardest to reach groups. More businesses wanted to be involved than there was capacity for, a number of whom requested notification when applications open for 2020. It was hoped that next year’s event would be even more impactful.

·         Members were informed that an appointment had been made for a position in the Education Unit, who would take the lead on the LCF and broader skills remit within the department.

·         Members discussed the breakdown of attendees to the LCF. It was suggested that for 2020, schools beyond the neighbouring boroughs would be invited at an earlier stage. In addition, following the success of the 2019 events, continued efforts would be made to include the Home School Network, Virtual School and Organisations supporting children with autism. Whilst there was a good attendance of Livery Schools, greater engagement would be welcomed. A Member requested the number of Livery Schools that were involved in 2019, which would be reported after the meeting. Another Member requested that the Care Givers Covenant not be overlooked.

·         A query was raised regarding the existence of any data that would demonstrate whether the LCF led directly to any instances of workplace learning based offers, or quality work experience offers. Members were informed that the only statutory data collated was for those pupils that went to university; however, this data was due to be expanded to include those who went on to apprenticeships. Beyond that, the Corporation was very limited in what data it was able to collect on students, due to GDPR restrictions.

·         Members heard about the media impact of the LCF. There was positive coverage in several publications, in which the City of London Corporation was mentioned. Whilst BBC London was invited, they did not attend as a result of an otherwise busy news week. Members called for media impact to be included in the evaluation report. The Board agreed that a two-page summary, including media coverage, be circulated to the Court of Common Council.

·         Members discussed the origins of the LCF, which built upon the pre-existing Livery Schools Link programme plus the Stationer’s Company’s annual Apprenticeship event and intended to create a “bridge to business”.

·         It was noted that schools often found it hard to meet the Gatsby Benchmarks and therefore the LCF helped support the Corporation’s Education and Skills Strategies as well as the Social Mobility Strategy.

·         The Chairman explained that he had invited Caroline Haines to take over as the Chair of the LCF Working Party and invited another Member to support her. Expressions of interest were requested.

RESOLVED, that

·         The Education Unit seek to implement the recommendations for LCF 2020, as described within the report;

·         A two-page summary of the evaluation report be circulated to the Court of Common Council, featuring media coverage; and

·         That the full evaluation report of LCF 2019 at appendix 1, be noted.