Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Scrutiny Manager recommending that the Panel discuss the issue of further education provision and performance in Southampton with representatives from Post 16 providers in the city, the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, and invited officers.

Cllr Winning – Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, Andrew Kaye – Chief Executive, South Hampshire College Group,  Alex Scott – Principal, Itchen 6th Form College, Angela Berry – Principal, Richard Taunton 6th Form College,  Paul Overton - Head of 6th Form, Bitterne Park School,  Jon Tucker  – Assistant Headteacher, St Annes School,  Claire Myers – Vice-Principal, Richard Taunton 6th Form College, and Derek Wiles – Divisional Head of Education and Learning at Southampton City Council were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel received a briefing from the leaders of the assembled education providers detailing appropriate contextual information for each college, and setting out the challenges for their colleges, and the common challenges in the provision of post 16 education in the City. 

The colleges referenced their importance within the community and explained how they reached out to students, even those obtaining lower grades in their GCSEs, to ensure that comprehensive pathways to further education existed in Southampton. 

It was explained that the number of students with special education needs being educated by the City’s colleges had risen significantly and that the providers were able to support students to attain a wide range of academic and vocational qualifications. 

It was explained that there had been a problem of perception regarding the quality of education provided by the education providers within the City. Colleges had however seen a growing number of children opting to study in Southampton, particularly from areas outside the city’s eastern boundaries.

The extensive collaboration between providers was identified as a real strength of the sector in Southampton. However, it was noted that currently it was difficult to effectively measure the performance of the providers as the added value measurements were currently not available. Providers informed the Panel that, when value added performance is published, it would reflect positively on Southampton establishments and would help to address some of the negative perception currently associated with further education providers in the City. 

RESOLVED that

1.  That further education providers in the City consider working collaboratively to develop a strategy with the objective of attracting more Southampton students to remain in the City for post 16 study.

2.  That, if further education in Southampton is considered by the Panel in 2024/25, the information published with the agenda includes appropriate measures of the colleges and school sixth forms respective performance.