(A) CAROL ARNFIELD, HEAD OF EARLY YEARS, SCHOOL STANDARDS AND ADULT EDUCATION, LBB
(B) TRACEY DAVIS, LONDON SOUTH EAST COLLEGE
(C) COLIN MACLEAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, COMMUNITY LINKS BROMLEY
(D) SHAKEELA SHOURIE, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT LEAD – STEP UP TO SOCIAL WORK, LBB
Minutes:
The Committee had been provided with a range of written evidence in advance of the meeting. This included a report providing an overview of Lifelong Learning and some of the opportunities available across the Borough, a submission from the Bromley Branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A), and a submission from Community Links Bromley.
The Chairman welcomed Ms Carol Arnfield, Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education (LBB), Ms Tracey Davis, Vice-Principal, London South East Colleges, and Mr Colin Maclean, Community Links Bromley to the meeting.
The Committee began by congratulating the Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education and all the staff involved in the successful outcome of the Ofsted Inspection of Adult Education.
The Committee explored a number of themes and issues with the witnesses and the Chairman suggested that the direction of the Committees enquiry could be distilled into three main headings:
The Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education began her presentation by emphasising that she welcomed the opportunity to champion lifelong learning due to the immeasurable benefits to both individuals and communities. Over the past few years, as a result of advances in the provision of technology and the impact that this has had on daily life, it had become increasingly important for adults to engage with lifelong learning. Last year Bromley’s Adult Education Service had a very successful year, developing a strong range of partnerships and a significant improvement in student achievements and this was reflected in the outcome of the Ofsted Inspection.
The Vice-Principal of London South East Colleges provided the Committee with some details around the vocational offer available at London South East Colleges. There were currently 12,000 learners on a range of vocational programmes which offered ‘employability skills’ described as “real skills for the real world”. Looking to identify skills gaps, the College worked alongside a variety of employers to ensure that industry needs were being met.
The Chief Executive of Community Links Bromley explained that his organisation was a Council for Voluntary Service and provided support work to the charity and voluntary sector. The importance of volunteering could not be underestimated. The Committee noted that the report provided by Community Links Bromley had provided examples of some of the targeted interventions in Bromley.
The Chairman noted that the University of the Third Age (U3A) had provided a very interesting submission to support the Committee’s review. The Committee expressed disappointment that the Workers Educational Association (WEA) had not been able to provide any information.
Noting the advances that had been made in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the emerging suggestions that AI would start to have an effect on professions such as Law and Human Resources, the Chairman queried whether any reports analysing the impact of AI had been published. The Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education reported that as AI was still in its infancy it was too early for research reports and information was somewhat limited. The Chief Executive of Community Links Bromley explained that a report had been published by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations entitled The Road Ahead. There was a good focus on AI and implications for the future. It was agreed that the report would be circulated to Members following the meeting.
Turing to the issue of Adult Learning in Bromley, the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Families noted that the additional funding that had been secured for Curriculum Leaders had played a pivotal part in the successful Ofsted outcome.
A Member expressed surprise that only 30% of learners from Bromley Adult Education College gained or sustained employment. In response, the Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education explained that generally Bromley Adult Education College catered for low level learning. As a result of this for most learners the next immediate step would be another course. The figure of 30% was typical for low level learners and a significant change to this figure was not expected. It was however recognised improvements were needed in the capturing of data.
The Committee noted that in the 2018 Autumn Term the work club at the Kentwood site had been rebranded as the Digital Drop In (DDI) Centre. Members noted that as the DDI was relatively new it was largely being advertised in the Adult Education Centres themselves. Issues such as online safety and security, and good digital housekeeping were taught as part of the student induction programme.
Noting that the report provided to the Committee suggested that partnerships with local employers were underdeveloped, the Chairman asked whether any progress had been made and received confirmation that it had not. The Chairman suggested that more should be done to develop relationships and tap into the resources of some of the larger companies across the Borough such as Tesco, Stagecoach, and Ikea who were due to open a new store in Bromley. The Committee noted that discussions had taken place with Stagecoach but there could often be challenges around patterns of shift work. In response to a question from the Chairman, the Vice-Principal of London South East Colleges reported that larger employers often provided their own bespoke training. In saying that, the College did work with a few companies to develop bespoke training packages.
A Member noted that there were a number of entrepreneurs across the Borough and Bromley had one of the highest rates of company start-ups. Members questioned the support that was available to entrepreneurs. The Vice-Principal of London South East Colleges reported that the College provided a variety of courses that would support entrepreneurs seeking to establish their own business. The Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education also confirmed that the Adult Education College was aware of people that were now running businesses as a result of courses that they had attended.
The Committee noted that there were no barriers of entrance to the Step Up to Social Work Programme in terms of age; indeed the programme was seeking to attract increased numbers of mature applicants. In addition to the Step Up to Social Work programme, members noted that the Now Teach programme was designed to attract mature entrants into teaching and these programmes were signposted through careers services.
Turning to the issue of the devolution of funding for post-16 learning and skills to the Office for the Mayor of London, the Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education confirmed that there would be no change in funding arrangements for the first year. Although it was expected that the funding threshold for full fee remission would be attached to the London Living Wage rather than the National Living Wage. There had also been guarantees that any changes in subsequent years would be introduced through a stepped process. In response to a question concerning the ability of the Local Authority to plan to mitigate any potentially detrimental effects of devolved funding arrangements, the Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education confirmed that in theory the Local Authority should be able to plan because of the notice period of the change in funding. The Local Authority was working closely with other providers and there would be opportunities to bid for additional funding.
Looking at the future challenges, the Chairman suggested that there may be opportunities for AI to support the provision of courses for English as a Second Language due to the reducing cost of the software that was available. The Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education acknowledged that there were opportunities that were worth exploring however it was worth noting that there were numerous benefits to learners of being in a classroom environment and interacting with other learners.
In response to a question surrounding the proportion of the budget that was spent on the upkeep of buildings, the Portfolio Holder for Children, Education and Families suggested that such expenditure would come from capital budgets. As the information was not available at the meeting it was agreed that it would be circulated to Members following the meeting.
The Committee noted that due to funding restrictions any update to the IT system needed to be introduced on a phased basis. Information about the age of the equipment was held and the plan was to replace the older equipment first. A Member queried whether it would be possible to seek sponsorship from nationally recognised companies for any of the work. It was suggested that this was a question for the Council’s Commissioning Team as strict procurement rules were in place.
In respect of the London Local Partnership, the Chairman suggested that a request should be made for LB Bromley to transfer into the South London group. Members also suggested that further information should be sought about the cost of membership of the London Local Partnership and who it was who took the decision not to be a full member. The Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education confirmed that there was no evidence that the level of funding received by LB Bromley was affected by the fact that the Local Authority was not a Member. Neither was participation in discussions and being able to bid affected by the Council’s non-member status, although this was something that would require monitoring in the future.
The Committee noted that Lifelong Learning was interconnected with a range of other services across the Council such as staff development, and the delivery of support to young people not in education, employment or training; it was not just the Adult Education service involved in lifelong learning, there was evidence of the use of learning as an alternative therapy right across the public sector. There was a national prescribing scheme which was niche and targeted. Local discussions were underway but nothing had been commissioned by Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as yet. Bromley CCG were looking to introduce a pilot scheme in Penge and Anerley which worked with five GP Surgeries. Discussion papers had been considered but as yet there was no formal commissioning.
Noting there was no dedicated website for the opportunities for cultural enrichment across the Capital the Committee suggested that it would be helpful for such a website to be created in order to signpost people to the variety of opportunities that were available.
In drawing the discussion to a close, the Chairman thanked Mrs Carol Arnfield, Head of Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education (LBB), Ms Tracey Davis, Vice-Principal, London South East Colleges, and Mr Colin Maclean, Community Links Bromley for their contribution to the Committee’s review. Following the meeting a report would be prepared for consideration by Full Council.