Raising Achievement & Access to Learning

The Head of Raising Achievement & Access to Learning is Colin Weeden

School Systems - Alison Cartwright

Responsible for school place planning and school reviews, including statutory processes for school changes, school census and pupil number forecasting, free school meals eligibility, Education Section 106 planning obligations, pupil admissions and transfers to Community and Voluntary Controlled schools, pupil transport including home to school transport and transport for SEN pupils and project management of the main reviews of Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire Special Schools.

For further information please see:

• Schools Web Pages
• Reviews and Consultations
• School Admissions

Vulnerable Children - Chris Golbourn

The main responsibilities of the Service are:

• To manage all matters relating to pupil exclusions.
• To ensure that the PRUs provide high quality learning opportunities   and that children and young people are re-integrated quickly and effectively into appropriate provision.
• To manage the placement of permanently excluded pupils and ensure arrangements are made for their education whilst out of school.
• To provide a proactive, inter-agency approach to attendance and child employment matters.
• To ensure that the Local Authority develops an effective anti-bullying strategy that protects children and young people.

For further information please see the Vulnerable Children website.

Resources - Andy McHale

The service provides a strategic opportunity for working within the Local Authority (LA) and with partners to maximise the impact of resources to improve outcomes for children and young people.  The role will be to initiate, develop and provide strategic policy guidance for the LA and schools on the efficient and effective use of resources and in relation to the statutory school funding system.

Please see The Worcestershire Schools Forum website

Access & Accommodation - Andrew Peasgood

Responsible for bidding to internal and external sources for funding to support the Capital programme, Asset Management Planning, planning and management of the Directorate’s Capital Development Programme for Schools and Children’s Social Care, management of the PFI/BSF schools building programmes, strategic management of the Directorate’s office accommodation needs, management of support services to schools in respect of Devolved Formula Capital, Purchasing, Catering, Grounds Maintenance and Caretaking and Cleaning.

For further information please see The School Buildings website

Building Schools for the Future - Geoff Roberts

Worcestershire has been successful in gaining entry to the National Building Schools for the Future programme.  The aim is to transform educational opportunities for all Young People by working with schools, communities and partners to deliver a range of joined up services.  The first project is in the Wyre Forest area where it is proposed to build 4 new secondary schools, 1 partial new build secondary school, a new build 2-19 special school and a new build KS3/4 Pupil Referral Unit.

14-19 - Jan Greenhalgh

The secondary curriculum is being reconfigured to provide appropriate learning opportunities for all Young People.  The key components of this are a National Apprenticeship Service, a Foundation Tier programme, Diplomas and GCSE’s/’A’ levels.  The Government is proposing to transfer all 16-19 funding to Local Authorities by September 2010 together with accountability for ensuring access to quality provision for all Young People who will be expected to remain in education or training up to age 18 by 2015.

Additional Needs - Vacancy

Specific areas of responsibility link together statutory and support services designed to meet the additional needs of children and young people.  The statutory elements of the SEN process are essential business and meet the requirements of the SEN Code of Practice.  However, as Worcestershire provides more creative and flexible models of funding in order to promote early intervention and prevention, the work of these teams will also focus on quality assurance and effective monitoring.

For further information please see:

• Learning Support
• SEN

Learning Opportunities - Anne Scarsbrook

The service promotes the achievement of all children, but with a key focus on those in underachieving and vulnerable groups.  All schools and settings are included, from ages 0 – 19 years.  We will be supporting and challenging all providers in raising achievement and enabling access to an enriched learning experience for all.

A main focus area will be co-ordinating professional development and learning so that the workforce is effective in meeting diverse needs and through the Educational Psychology service, linking with Area Teams and targeted services.

Education, Performance and Development - Ray Westwood

This servise principally relates to supporting achievement in schools through the deployment of School Improvement Partners (SIPS) and the oversight of the local delivery of national strategies for school improvement in the primary and secondary phases. It will respond to the outcomes of Ofsted inspections of schools and other institutions in the county and is supported by colleagues working at senior adviser level in relation to children aged 0 to 11, 11 to 19 and with additional learning needs.

In addition to what may be seen as fairly traditional school phase related responsibilities the post also carries a brief to scrutinise the impact of LA targeted services in terms of raised achievement and thereby contribute to the effective delivery of Children’s Services in the widest sense.