Building Staffordshire's Future (BSF) held a two day consultation event for primary and secondary aged pupils in July as part of the county wide Manifesto for Change consultation.

"This event was a fantastic opportunity for a wide range of young people to have an opportunity to be heard and it is important that that their opinions are listened to acted on." Children's Commissioner Gill Stanford

Over the two days almost 180 children and young people took part in interactive workshops to find out what they thought about a variety of topics including; the length of the school day, how and where they like to learn and where they feel unsafe around school.

Deputy Leader, County Councillor Robert Simpson, who attended the primary day, explained: "It is critical to the success of BSF in Staffordshire that young people are involved and engaged with the programme from the start, and throughout the process. We need to have a better understand about what young people want for their future, their priorities, and how they would like to shape education in Staffordshire.

"The BSF Young People's Conference was designed to be fun and exciting in the way that it was delivered and to give participants the opportunity to speak freely about the issues raised. Many of the young people I talked to at the event were enjoying the opportunity to be able to have their say, and to be listened to. The feedback from the event will provide us with invaluable data that will help us to Build Staffordshire's Future. "

Held at Drayton Manor Park in Tamworth, the event was an overwhelming success with the majority of young people on both days ranking the event as either 'excellent' or 'good' on their evaluation forms.

This was the first event of its type to be held for BSF and the conference was facilitated by the county's School Improvement Division as well as members of the Children and Young People's Participation Sub Group. The group is made up of professionals who work directly with children and young people from a diverse range of agencies across the Children's Trust.

Children's Commissioner Gill Stanford opened the secondary day of the conference. Speaking at the event she commented: "As the Children's Commissioner I am responsible for ensuring the views of children and young people are taken into account when planning and providing services for children in the county.

Building Staffordshire's Future is a huge agenda for the young people of Staffordshire and it is good that they are being involved from the beginning. This event was a fantastic opportunity for a wide range of young people to have an opportunity to be heard and it is important that that their opinions are listened to acted on."

Feedback from Conference, as well as video footage and photographs, is available on the bsf website now.

  Green light to invest £100 million Tamworth

Staffordshire County Council was given the green light to invest £100 million in Tamworth in an announcement made by the government in June.

In welcoming the news Deputy Leader, County Councillor Robert Simpson said: "We are ecstatic at the news and I am delighted for the people of Tamworth. Building Staffordshire's Future is a fantastic opportunity that will provide vital investment in Tamworth and be an excellent starting point to begin improving and transforming education throughout the whole in the county. It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will improve the lives of generations of young people, their families and communities beyond all recognition over the next ten years."

Following detailed consultation with Tamworth head teachers, a proposed structure for education in the district was submitted as part of the bid. The proposal, which will go to full public consultation in the autumn, would see all current secondary sites retained with Queen Elizabeth's Mercian School becoming the sixth form centre for the district and Woodhouse Business and Enterprise College becoming an academy.

Councillor Simpson added: "There are a number of big issues that BSF will be able to address including facilities that are no longer fit for purpose, a lower than average number of students going into further and higher education and poor post-16 performance. We believe strongly that a radical solution is required to make sure young people in Tamworth achieve to their full potential.

"BSF will bring great improvements to Tamworth and I would encourage the community to embrace the changes this programme will bring as positive.

Consultation on the proposals for Tamworth will take place between October and December 2008 and will be open to everyone to participate in. Following the consultation period, building work could begin in 2011. More detailed timescales will be announced during the public consultation in the autumn term.

To find out more and how to get involved visit our website: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/bsf

Last Modified: 25/09/2008 11:20:32
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