Agenda item

This report provides further information in support of the ongoing review on Entrepreneurship in York Schools, and asks the Task Group to agree the next stages for progressing the work on this review.

Members considered a report that provided further information in support of the ongoing review on Entrepreneurship in York Schools, and asked the Task Group to agree the next stages for progressing the review.

The Principal Advisor 14-19 was in attendance at the meeting and additional information was tabled on the Children’s University, feedback from St Peters School and details of a recent meeting with the STEM coordinator at Fulford School.

Members considered the Ofsted reports and school prospectuses for the four schools which the Task Group had previously identified as examples of good practice, and made the following comments:

·        Queens Park Community School: The Ofsted report showed that the school had succeeded in terms of embedding its business and enterprise specialism within the curriculum and that this permeated other subjects. Members agreed that contact should be made with the school in order to be able to gather evidence of where they were previously and how they got to where they were now. It was agreed that Councillor Fitzpatrick would seek to visit the school when she was next in London.

·        St Mary’s RC Primary (Falmouth): Members expressed the view that the approach there was based around a citizenship programme and felt that the key element was citizenship rather than entrepreneurship. 

·        Manchester Enterprise Academy – Members acknowledged the references in its Ofsted report to “links with sponsors, the wider community and world of business” Members recognised that it was important to have good business support and if good sponsors came into a school, it could influence the curriculum in a positive way.

·        King James School, Kirklees – Members noted the survey letter dated April 2011 regarding the economics and business education.  Due to the fact the school was relatively close and the council had links with Kirklees, Members felt it would be useful to know whether the situation was still the same as when the survey letter had been written. The Principal Advisor 14-19 agreed to contact colleagues at Kirklees to investigate this further.

Officers also provided an update on ongoing work in relation to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) as it was recognised that much of this was linked to product design, creative and innovative thinking and business related activity.  However, Members agreed that from an enterprise perspective, the STEM work did not go far enough as the process did not include pupils looking at the marketing and selling of the products they designed.

Officers updated the task group on the refurbishment of a small maths area at Archbishop of York Junior School, responsibility for which had been handed over to the school’s pupil council. While it was recognised that this project would not be completed within the timescales of the Task Group’s review, Members felt it would be beneficial to talk to staff and pupils from the school to gain further information on the project.  It was therefore agreed that a visit be arranged to the school.

In regard to teacher training, Members queried whether this included an entrepreneurial element.  It was confirmed that

 the council held details of those NQTs in their first year of teaching in York and it was agreed their views should be sought.

Members learnt that the Children’s University provided employer led modules delivered with the assistance of York University students.  During the year, children took part in a number of activities culminating in a graduation ceremony. Officers advised that it was originally targeted at schools with higher levels of disadvantage but had become increasingly popular with about half of York’s primary schools now involved (each making a financial contribution to the scheme). Members agreed this was a method of getting entrepreneurship into schools in a visible way and were pleased to learn there was potential for continuing some activities into secondary schools at KS3.

An update was also provided on the Skills Plan for the Leeds City Region 2013-2015.  Members’ attention was drawn to Priority 4 “More enterprise and innovation culture in education” but it was recognised that this was more about increasing employability skills than entrepreneurship itself. Officers also confirmed the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was progressing but was not quite there yet.

It was agreed that the next meeting would take place during week commencing 3 November  and that representatives from the Children’s University (along with one of their business partners), and North Yorkshire Business Education Partnership (NYBEP) be invited to attend.

Finally, Members were advised that on Tuesday 21^st October, City of York Council would hold its annual careers event, Steps to Success, for young people at York Racecourse and invited Members to attend this event.

Resolved: 

(i)      That the information in the report and annexes, as well as the additional information circulated, be noted.

(ii)      That the suggested way forward detailed above be noted.

Reason:     To progress the review in line with agreed scrutiny procedures and protocols.