1. Schools Partnership Report
Governing Body Education Committee
21st November 2018

2. Overview Entitlement Framework Area Learning Communities
Collaboration with SERC
FE Sector Position
Issues/Challenges

3. Entitlement Framework
VEP – funded by DEL
Entitlement Framework (EF) - introduced by DE in to provide a broad and balanced curriculum at 14-19, matched to the needs & aptitudes of all pupils:
21 courses at KS4 (originally 24)
21 courses at post 16 (originally 27)
One-third of courses must be applied, with greater emphasis on practical coursework; one-third must be general with greater emphasis on examinations.

4. Area Learning Communities (ALCs)
Area Learning Communities were established to enable schools, FE colleges and other providers, to work in collaboration to provide efficient delivery of the Entitlement Framework. There are 29 ALCs in Northern Ireland – 4 in the South Eastern Region:
Lecale Learning Community (LLC)
Ballynahinch Learning Community (BLC)
Lisburn Area Learning Community (LALC)
North Down and Ards Area Learning Community (NDALC)

5. Benefits to ALCs
SERC has been extremely successful in improving educational outcomes for pupils at KS4, as well as developing applied, work- related provision at post 16, which has enabled sixth form pupils to progress to higher education at university, in FE and to employment.
Access to greater range of applied subject choices through working in partnership with other schools and SERC
Collaborative blocks hosted by SERC improve efficiency and greatly enhance options for smaller schools/cohorts
Access to subjects not normally available in schools
Delivered in state of the art industry standard facilities
Appropriately qualified Professional & Technical staff

6. Benefits to SERC Additional income stream Marketing
Enhances reputation with schools, pupils, parents, and wider community
Careers Advice & Guidance to schools pupils 14-19
Influences Progression to TFS, FE and HE
Raises profile with employers

7. Current Position 2018/19
Working with 23 schools with an expected income of £690K and enrolment of approximately 1100 pupils:
3 grammar schools
4 integrated schools
6 maintained schools
5 controlled schools
4 special schools
172 classes delivered each week, across all campuses, involving 86 SERC teachers.

8. Performance Statistics
2013/2014
2014/2015
2015/2016
2016/2017
2017/2018
No of schools 36 35 32 31 28
Enrolments
1656
1555
1456
1196
1119
Income
£1.01m
£891K
£817K
£790K
Achievement
86%
89%
92%
90%
91%
KS4
88%
93%
Post 16
98%
94%
97%
FE Sector Averages:
KS4: 91%
post16: 94%

9. FE Sector Income Since 2015/16
33% decline in income across sector since 2015/16
11% decline in income across sector since 2017/18

10. Progression to FE – 5 year analysis

11. EF Demographic Trends
Since Entitlement Framework collaboration was introduced in 2008/09 there has been a 9% increase number of pupils attending school sixth forms, against a backdrop of an 8% decline in the 16/17 age population:
DE Statistics:
2008/9
2016/17
Pupils in 6th form
27113
29485
NI population est.
51460
47528
% staying on to 6th form
52.70%
62.00%
N.B. The percentage of pupils in the 16/17 population staying on to sixth form in 2003/04 was 45.6%.
Statistics Supplied by Department of Education

12. Issues/Challenges EF Collaboration with Schools:
Uncertainty around EF funding after 2019
Sustainability of schools
Duplication of provision
Effective Careers Advice & Guidance
Impact on full-time FE:
Lack of agreed DE/DfE Strategy for education
Demographic trends
Regulation of Professional Technical Qualifications
Post 16 recruitment in schools’ sector
Area Based Planning within ALCs