How we support learning and skills
More than a good education
Every child deserves a good education. The right foundation of learning and skills is vital for our young people to access good jobs and live healthier, happier and independent lives.
Staffordshire’s Learning and Skills Strategy challenges every one of our 400 schools to be rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, it also recognises that educating young people to take advantage of the skilled and hi-tech job opportunities in the county involves more than obtaining academic qualifications.
A good education also raises aspirations, provides personal skills young adults need to prosper in the real world and offers good, balanced careers guidance from an early age.
Supporting schools in their efforts to improve
The way education works is changing and schools are becoming self-supporting, controlling their own destiny by forming strong partnerships with other schools, working together to share expertise, senior management teams and costs.
As part of that process Staffordshire County Council’s role is changing from being a direct provider of school improvement services to commissioning them.
We have already created a unique joint venture in Entrust and commissioned it to support improvement in our schools. Simultaneously a newly-formed Education Trust.
We are forging closer links between employers and schools so that pupils better understand the world that awaits them. Parents and students will be provided with more details about performance, so they can make informed decisions on the choices before them, while governors’ training and development will be supported.
Make no mistake, striving to be among the very best in the country will take hardwork, but I am excited about the future, because I believe in that our approach in Staffordshire is unique and one that will make a real difference to the lives our children and young people will lead.