Decision details

10.1

The Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families, submitted a report  seeking permission to continue commissioning the Vocational Skills Programme (VSP) for learners at Key Stage 4 for the academic years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16.   The VSP was organised by the Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities on behalf of schools and academies and made available off-site provision at college or with other providers for learners of all abilities, including those 14-16 year olds at risk of disengagement. 

10.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

approves the undertaking of a procurement exercise in accordance with Council Standing Orders and EU regulations for the 14-16 Vocational Skills Programme for the period 2013-16 inclusive; and

(b)

delegates powers to the Director of Lifelong Learning, Skills and Communities to proceed to contract after the procurement exercise has been completed without further recourse to Cabinet.

10.3

Reasons for Decision

10.3.1

The continuance of the VSP preserves an essential part of the City’s offer to Key Stage 4 learners, providing an introduction to vocational and employability skills which will be of great value in informing their post-16 choices and encouraging successful progression.

10.3.2

The VSP actively seeks to re-engage those learners at Key Stage 4 who are at risk of disengaging from learning and contributes therefore to the City’s strategy for driving down 16-18 Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs) and in meeting the local authority’s new statutory obligations associated with the Raising of the Participation Age (RPA) legislation.

10.3.3

The VSP offers an important opportunity for school-age young people to prepare for adult life and work by equipping them with the necessary skills, experience of the workplace and the vocational qualifications. It also helps furnish the workforce of the future with the attributes and competencies that will be needed for a strong and healthy local economy. 

10.3.4

The VSP is connected strategically and contributes significantly to a range of important skills and employment initiatives in the City, as organised by the City Council and its partners including Future:proof, the 100 Apprenticeship initiative; the City Deal and the Made in Sheffield curriculum.

10.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

10.4.1

The VSP could be terminated at the end of the 2012/13 academic year and schools, academies and the PRU required to organise their own off-site provision. The result would almost certainly be a return to the fragmented and unsatisfactory arrangements that existed before the city’s schools asked the local authority to organise a structured, high quality and cost-effective VSP on their behalf. The benefits of a centrally procured, managed and quality assured network of training providers would be lost.  Schools would have to duplicate these functions on an individual basis, with a consequent wastage of resource across the city.  Not having the necessary expertise and experience in place would lead to potentially variable quality of health and safety, safeguarding and delivery arrangements thereby increasingly placing individual learners at risk.  This option was rejected for these reasons.

10.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

10.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

10.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Jayne Ludlam,, Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families.

10.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Children, Young People and Family Support.