Minutes

Chair’s Business:

The Chair took the time to acknowledge the work of Jim Bowyer, (Bristol Hospital Education Special Partnership) for his valued contribution to the Board over the past year.  

Acknowledged and welcomed those who were joining the partnership for the first time especially the representation from the Youth Council; the Race Equality in Education Group; the newly appointed Chairs of Special Schools Partnership and VOSCUR.

The Mayor and Sherrie Eugene-Hart addressed the board on the City Leadership programme.

The Mayor outlined details of the programme that started in 2012, targeting those from disadvantaged backgrounds; to equip young people to succeed and drive forward their natural abilities and aspiration; to enable them to develop into future leaders; to challenge and compete on equal footing with those from ‘elite’ backgrounds.

The programme invites 12 to 15 (number) young people aged 16yrs to 19yrs onto a 2 week programme followed up with a 5 weeks mentoring programme.  The programme covers:

• Coaching
• Seminars
• Skills-building workshops
• Evening meal with distinguished dinner speakers
• ‘Dress the Part’ shopping day – purchasing work or interview-appropriate outfit
• Formal completion dinner

The Mayor evidenced the success of the programme with a number of case studies that demonstrated the positive outcomes on participant’s aspiration.

The programmed relies on a combination of corporate sponsorship and the Mayor’s discretionary budget to cover £20-23K costs and is delivered through the Mayor’s Office.

The request to the partnership is for this programme of learning to be adopted by the City and for partnership input.  The 2 week programme was held at alternative venues to traditional places of learning.  The intention is to put the participants in a professional environment from the outset. 

The ask to the City is to assist with supporting the programme to become sustainable, self-sufficient and grow into a citywide aspiration to grow leaders from all backgrounds.

The following was noted from the discussion:

1. It was suggested that the programme would benefit from the continued link with the Mayor’s office
2. The University of Bristol representative offered to have conversations to ascertain in what way they can input into the programme

Resolved:

1. To endorse the programme
2. That Board members would share details of the programme and contact the Mayor’s office with contributions towards the long term sustainability of the project.

Fiona Carnie, provided the Board with an overview of the recently formed Bristol Education Partnership(BEP). Noting the synergy between the partnership priorities and the aims of the City Leadership programme.

a.      DfES encouraged state schools and independent schools to work together to share resources and skills.  From the invitation to all institutions across Bristol 4 state schools; 5 independent schools; St Brendan 6^th form provision joined the programme.  The partnership includes both of the City’s universities.

b.      The steering board has 13 members; the memorandum of association was published in December 2018 with its priorities being:

·        Overcoming disadvantage

·        Raising aspirations

·        Broadening Education

·        Inspiring staff

c.      The partnership priorities can be found here: https://www.bristollearningcity.com/education/bristol-education-partnership/

d.      BEP provides the opportunity for cross partnership working; with each learning establishment coming together as equals; without superiority; accepting the reciprocal nature of the arrangement.

e.      BEP project launch; the intention was to absorb the climate change agenda into the launch event. 

The following comments arose from the discussion that followed:

f.       The board explored the details of the CPD Event planned for 15^th June to 10^th July 2020 a month of celebration in honour of teachers; its intention to offer wider experiences to participants; a giving back exercise including discounts & offers to Teachers. 

g.      The ‘ask’ was for BEP to consider inviting primary school settings onto the partnership.

h.     Learning City Festival: explored the wider opportunities if the CPD event ran concurrently with the festival.  Noted that the date of the festival was set to avoid conflict with next May 2020 council elections.

Tom Sperlinger noted that the University of Bristol is currently working on progression routes into its undergraduate programmes for students without conventional prior qualifications, building on its successful foundation year in arts and humanities (on which 90% of students have not had A-Levels), which has recently been expanded into social sciences. UOB is looking at similar models in STEM and also at a potential flexible undergraduate degree at the new Temple Quarter campus. Tom asked whether other colleagues (especially at BCC, UWE and City of Bristol) would be interested in working together on what a city-wide offer in this area would like, building on the excellent work of the post-16 working group.

It was agreed that Tom and Tommy Jarvis would follow this up with relevant members of the Board.

1. The intention was to hold a half day workshop to deep dive the issue
2. The board members will be emailed with possible dates for the event

Easter Dean presented to the partnership the aims and aspiration of the Race Equality in Education Group.  The full presentation will be circulated with the minutes.

1. The group membership consist of: education professionals, community representatives; parents; Councillors; a number of organisations.
2. The REEG’s activities fed into CORE (Commission for Race Equality & Learning City).
3. Provided an outline of the groups Education and Skills - Vision and Action Plan.
4. Key priorities were the
   1. Recruitment and Retention of BME teachers
   2. The implementation of Bristol One Curriculum
5. Bristol has only 4.4% BME teachers compared to average of 7.5% in the rest of England; outlined the work done with MAG who ran a conference; shared the positive outcomes and how matters arising would be moved forward; the implementation of 3 themed annual conferences; how social media platforms would support BME currently in teaching; the issue of pupil progress – actions taken to research, to be informed to enable input; to enable joint working between parents and teachers.
6. Bristol One Curriculum: (quote direct from the presentation) This is the establishment of an  ‘exciting alternative to current curriculum which will add the ‘Colour back into the Curriculum’. Two pronged approach through Curriculum and Community enhancement. We are asking schools to adopt a set of principles to commit to a ‘diverse learning environment’ which covers curriculum, CPD, recruitment and ethos. We have already had discussions around badging schools and kite marking resources’
7. Confirmed that they were pleased to join the partnership and support its priorities.

The following comments were noted from the discussion:

8. The Board discussed the ways in which REEG membership could be approached to become Governors.
9. The Youth Mayor noted the alignment of the REEG with the Youth Council’s priorities requesting that links are formed.
10. Members asked for an opportunity to input into coming events that the REEG are leading on, including the Bristol One Curriculum project and wanted to know how education establishments would be encouraged to incorporate the curriculum.  It was explained that the vision was that an accredited programme would gather its own momentum; parents would look for an explanation from learning establishments for the reason why they had not adopted BOC to support the diverse student body.
11. The University of West of England representative offered to meet to share learning that would inform the UWE’s work on the disparity between BME/White student achievements.
12. The Officer for Education & Skills, shared ways in which the city could input into the BME teacher recruitment drive; making suggestions on possible access to funds to support the groups aspiration to increase the numbers of BME teachers.  The support available to BME teachers who wish to progress into middle management, suggesting funding streams that could be accessed to support the groups priorities.
13. The Chair invited members to meet with Esther Dean at the end of the meeting to share contact details and opportunities.

Resolve:

1. To endorse the REEG strategy.
2. Welcome the addition of the organisation onto the Partnership.

Emma Jarman, addressed the Board providing an update on the post 16 Strategy groups recent activities:

1. The report for Cabinet is being finalised and would encapsulate the information shared with the partnership in July.
2. The Task & Finish group are working on the final reiteration of the implementation plan; the strategy will be out for consultation in October 2019.
3. Transport: the findings illustrated the impact of poor transport links to learning establishments and in turn how this linked to areas of deprivation.  The data was recently shared with the City’s Transport Board, the membership of the Board included the commercial bus operators.  The evidence presented was irrefutable, showing the correlation between poor transport routes in areas of deprivation and those not progressing into further education.  The ask was for a solution and if not free bus passes the challenge was left with them to consider what could be offered.
   • Noted that many education establishments, colleges, did offer transport assistance to students from poorer backgrounds
4. The intention was for the implementation plan to have a wide scope; to provide an opportunity for wider engagement amongst organisations; to support the sourcing of funding to allow for collaborative working; to include real actions with discernible outcomes.
5. The Partnership are asked to
   • Support by promoting and feeding into the October Consultation
   • Sharing the strategy’s priorities with colleagues
   • Feedback success stories for early media announcements
   • Support the groups endeavours to seek out funding bids both locally and nationally

Resolved

1. That the Board endorses the work of the group and would act as outlined.

The Chair provided an overview of the project; that aimed to establish library’s in settings not normally associated with books; launching them in locations such as community farms, Doctor’s surgeries.

The ask:

• To note progress.
• Reading Volunteers: there is always a need for additional people from all organisations; they will not always be asked to read, for example to lead on dispelling myths about boys reading.

The Chair reminded all that this was an ongoing priority and of some urgency because the city remains the bottom of national league tables. 

1. The Chair acknowledge the exceptional work being done by all educational establishments but there remain challenges, for example; around families with extended family members in Europe & World-wide; this impacted on the length of holidays taken and ultimately impacted on attendance statistics.
2. The project had been without a lead, for almost a year but had now been allocated a part-time resource for a period of 6 months.  The Partnership’s view is that Attendance is its leading priority and as such funding should be made available to allow for the person in post to dedicate more hours to the project.
3. The issues is of importance to the City and should be adopted as such; suggested that it should be absorbed within the priorities of the Excellence in Schools forum; shared with the housing forums such as Bristol Homes Board as there are proven factors that link poor accommodation to non-attendance
4. Student non-attendance is an issue for all and the City should be encouraged to adopt it as a priority; the commercial sector should be made aware of the potential negative impact on student’s going into the discipline of work, failing to understand the commitment and requirement to be in attendance daily.
5. Safeguarding:  All were reminded that children missing education are often involved in situations that have safeguarding implications.
6. The Executive Director: People, advised that every effort would be made to secure funding to extend the role of the Attendance Manager to a permanent full-time position.

Resolved:

1. The Chair provided an overview of the Learning Festival, to take place from the 30^th March to 5^th April 2020, a week of activities encouraging and sharing lifelong learning.
2. The intention is for the festival to have over 70 activities city-wide; it was central to the success of the festival that those who live at the edge of the City would not need to travel to central Bristol to participate but that citizens would have the opportunity to participate in an activity taking place in a ward local to them.
3. The Ask to all was to suggest to their own education setting that they could contribute an activity to the festival that must be free to access.

Resolved:

                 i.          That the partnership would input directly to the project lead