Wales urges schools to collaborate

By Nancy Rowntree Wednesday, 23 January 2008

Schools in Wales will have to work together to offer a varied range of courses for 14- to 19-year-olds, under proposals outlined by the Welsh Assembly Government.

School pupils working on computers

But there are concerns in the education sector that schools and local authorities do not have the resources to fully implement the changes.

Schools, further education colleges and local authorities will have to co-operate with each other to make sure students have access to a wide-ranging local curriculum under the Learning and Skills Measure 2008, equivalent to a Westminster Bill, published last week.

Deputy minister for skills John Griffiths, said: "This has the potential to transform provision and support for learners while raising achievement and attainment levels. It will prepare young people for high skilled employment or higher education."

The measure sets out clear duties on governors and school leaders to make sure joint arrangements are put in place. Funding and contractual arrangements with training providers will be used to place duties on schools to ensure all learners are given their entitlements.

Local authorities will also have a key co-ordinating role in securing the entitlements for pupils and ensuring a range of courses are available locally.

John Chowcat, general secretary of children's services union Aspect, welcomed the proposals but was concerned about how they would work in practice.

"There is a lot of instinctive understanding in Wales of the need to collaborate and the proposals are very welcome, but the reality will be hard going on the ground," he said. "It will take time at a local level to build trust and relationships between schools, colleges and local authorities to make this work."

Chowcat said major financial investment would be required to meet the extra costs of collaboration such as student travel and the costs in terms of senior management time needed to set up partnership working.

As well as a wider range of courses, pupils will be able to access advice and support to maximise their learning. This access will be particularly important for vulnerable or disadvantaged young people. All 14- to 19-year-olds would also have access to a learning coach to help them develop learning skills.

- www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.