Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director for Education and Inclusion

The Head of Skills and Employability provided members with an update on the performance of the Learning & Skills Service for academic year 2023/24.  Members were informed of the range of training provided by the service and those whom the service seeks to support.

Points of note included that the service was inspected by Ofsted in June 2022, retaining its assessment of ‘Good’ overall. 

In 2023/24 the service had 1,501 across a wide range of programmes, including:

(a)    73 16–18-year-olds on Study Programme

(b)   1,370 people on Adult Skills courses

(c)    58 Apprenticeship starts

Members asked questions that included whether the services we provide are the same as those offered by local Colleges with officers responding that a mix of provision is present and that the service works closely with Darlington College, with no curriculum issues being present.

Members also clarified TVCA funding – members were informed that although funding has not been cut, the final figures from last year’s over-delivery have not been consolidated into this year’s budget.  Ideally the final figures from the previous year would be used as a baseline for the following year’s funding but this has not been the case.  Members expressed that greater funding-assurance from TVCA would be desirable.

RESOLVED - Members noted the content of the report and commended the service for the positive work being carried out.