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 Chair welcomed representatives from NYBEP (North Yorkshire Business Education Partnership), Westfield Primary School, Osbaldwick Primary School, York Children’s University, York’s Federation of Small Businesses, Aviva and Natwest and asked them to comment on their current entrepreneurship offers. She explained that the feedback would help the Task Group recognise good practice and allow them to identify appropriate sources of employability and enterprise related activities for York schools. 

Members were informed that various opportunities were currently on offer in York and that links through York Cares and the Children’s University had made it possible for some primary school children to engage with and attend programs run by Aviva and Natwest. 

Representatives from both companies explained how they had worked with the children on either advertising or banking activities. They agreed the programs were a huge success and they were very impressed by the level of professionalism and innovative proposal’s from such a young age.

The Federation of Small Businesses representative confirmed they had worked with over 6000 young people in York schools supporting careers and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities.

NYBEP confirmed that they also supplied a range of enterprise and business related events and challenges to York schools, including supporting Lord Young’s fiver challenge which allowed the children to start their own business from a £5 loan. She agreed that York had a large number of entrepreneurial activities available although some strategic overview and collation of them was required to improve access for  all schools  . It was noted that NYBEP’s and yor-zone websites also contained an excellent source of entrepreneurial information.

The Head of Westfield Primary School raised an issue regarding communication gaps between some schools the Council and Councillors. She felt that primary school children could be under estimated and should be given a pupil voice that was listened to more especially in some activities that seemed to only be open to secondary schools.

She stated that Westfield were actively involved in the York Care’s modules and agreed that these offers should be taking place from primary school age. She confirmed that the fiver challenge had taught her pupils about the world of enterprise and had been a huge success within her school.

The Head of Osbaldwick Primary School informed the Task Group that they had been involved in entrepreneurial activities for many years and had won various awards including the Primary level at Venturefest. She stated that the school actively uses York Cares and the Children’s University schemes and her priority was to ensure these opportunities were sustained and not eradicated like.

In answer to Members questions regarding the attitudes towards entrepreneurship from boys and girls it was felt that primary school children were on a similar level but in secondary schools the STEM figures showed attitudes were lower in girls. It was agreed that introducing positive role models was imperative to allow children to be inspired and be given aspirations to enable them to understand why subjects such as Maths and English were so important.

Officers agreed that all entrepreneurial projects on offer must be sustainable and that relationships with those schools who were not engaged in any offers were built and maintained.

The Children’s University confirmed they had been running for 3 years and worked with 16 primary schools and over 40 businesses. They were currently looking at ways to expand their offers and would be opening a new retail module based at the Designer Outlet. Although they worked with a few secondary schools in York they were keen to grow this and would be piloting a scheme in January 2015.

To identify good practice in other Local Authority areas the Task Group confirmed they would be visiting two schools, King James School in Kirklees and Queen Park Community School in Brent, London. It was suggested that a Headteacher from a York school should also attend the visits.

Members thanked everyone for their comments and for attending the meeting. They agreed the information would enable them to proceed forward and investigate how to move these schemes into schools who were not already engaged.

Resolved: 

(i)           That the additional information provided in paragraphs 14-28 of the report and the associated annexes be noted.

(ii)          That the feedback provided at the meeting by the attending consultees be considered.

(iii)        That a Headteacher be invited to attend the visits to King James School and Queen Park Community School.

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