Learner Needs in Spelthorne

This is an Executive Summary of a report which assesses the learning needs in Spelthorne, details the barriers to learning people in the Borough face, looks at current participation, achievement and retention rates, and also maps current provision in the Borough of both formal and informal learning.

Assessment of Learning Needs

The partnership commissioned a research project in May 2000 involving a mapping exercise and learner needs analysis. The recommendations of this report has subsequently led to a successful Local Initiatives Fund (LIF) bid to support a young carers project in the Stanwell area with Voluntary Action in Spelthorne acting as lead organisation. The project lasting 3 years will identify and engage vulnerable excluded or potentially excluded young carers and have the support of a community project worker. Individual learning plans designed to help the young people to realise their full potential with the support of respite will hopefully prove successful in addressing issues of low literacy and numeracy skills brought about by irregular school attendance.

According to the Education, Skills and Training Deprivation Index the worst performing wards in the Borough are Stanwell North, Sunbury and Stanwell South. Spelthorne has the third highest level of people aged 16-60 with poor literacy skills and poor numeracy skills (19.7% for literacy, 18.7% for numeracy). A closer look at ward estimates of the top 45 wards in terms of the highest percentage reveals Stanwell South as warranting increased targeted resource. A total of 31.1% and 27.6% are estimated to have low numeracy and literacy skills respectively.

Barriers to Learning

Research has identified the following: lack of childcare facilities, lack of time, inappropriate timing of courses, difficulty accessing, cost of courses, cultural barriers, language, lack of information and lack of interest.

Interviewees reported a narrow perception of the utility of education in certain sectors of the resident population e.g. why study more when there is no reward offered in the workplace? Seeing others who have gained qualifications fail to benefit is a real disincentive to learn and this is intensified by the near full employment rate in the borough. A major barrier to participation cited by several providers interviewed is the suggestion that many learners do not consider that they have basic skills needs. Also many potential students are not attracted to the traditional provision offered.

The full report includes information about initiatives designed to overcome barriers to learning: bursaries, ILAs, free tasters, free vouchers, half fee to Keep Fit, extended hours of opening, modular training, home tuition, encouraging learning in families, disability initiatives, outreach in primary schools, email updates of local events and courses, the work of the University of the Third Age, engaging families needing support, free tuition for literacy, numeracy & ESOL courses.

The full report also examines specific barriers to learning and moves to overcome them in more detail: the lucrative job market, accessibility by transport, barriers for young people, barriers highlighted by voluntary groups, barriers for ex-offenders and the unemployed, barriers for non-traditional learners, barriers for older learners, and lack of information,

Mapping Provision

The full report surveys the information available on participation rates in Spelthorne's provision. It was not possible to achieve a complete set of credible baseline data but some interesting information was discovered about retention rates by ward and by college. This identified the highest percentage of withdrawals from courses (Stanwell North, 22%), the preferred mode of attendance (majority part-time 66%, 28% full time and 6% full time part year), the age profile of registered learners, the highest participation rate by ward (Staines Town 6.2% and Ashford Town 5.5%, both in close proximity to Spelthorne College).

It was also possible to establish the total number of Spelthorne residents in FE education (4364, 4.9%), the three most popular subjects taken to examination level (Humanities 999, Business 537 and Health & Community 492). It also identified that the number of course enrolments for basic skills courses were surprisingly low for the areas of most need: Stanwell South 16, Stanwell North 25, Sunbury Common 25, Ashford East 13. Adult Education Student information revealed a participation rate for the borough of 5.2%, that female residents are in a majority at 80.5% and that the average age for an adult education learner is 52 years. The full report gives approximate data on adult education enrolments by ward. - Stanwell North at 1.7% and Stanwell South at 2.5% show the lowest participation rates.

Only one primary school in Spelthorne not achieving their individual set target for Key Stage 2 is at present involved in a family learning project.

It is suggested that the partnership will need to consult all providers and agree the level of data required in order to set local targets which 'synergise' with their individual providers' strategic plans. Once this has been established, consideration will need to be given to the question of who will take responsibility for managing this statistical reporting.

The full report undertook a mapping exercise that included an outline of schools provision and activities linked to community and business. There are 7 infant schools, 16 primary schools, 4 junior schools including 6 with nursery classes. The School Organisation Plan 2001/02-2006/07 suggests that primary numbers will reduce during the plan period with surplus capacity exceeding 20% in Stanwell by 2006-2007. There are six maintained secondary schools in Spelthorne. Of these 6 schools, 4, Ashford High Community School, Matthew Arnold Community School, Sunbury Manor Community School and Thamesmead Foundation School offer places between the age of 11-16. Two, Bishop Wand CE(A) and St Paul's Catholic (A) offer places between the ages of 11-18. Total standard number capacity 6690 (11-15) will rise to 6780 subject to completion of proposed building works. This number includes Magna Carta Community School, which is situated in Staines but in the Runnymede Borough. The report details business in partnership schemes with schools and colleges, agencies in partnership with schools, 16 - 19 year student provision, college provision both on site and in the community, basic skills in the workplace, family learning in schools, provision for the unemployed, Community Services provision, Youth Service provision, Adult Education Service provision, learning taking place in Libraries, NACRO, and voluntary organisations.

Recommendations

To be developed.