Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable interests made.

a)  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 12^th February 2016

b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 12^th February 2016 were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Executive Director of People

The Cabinet Member for Education considered a report on the outcome of the public consultation on the School Terms and Holidays dates for 2017/2018 and requested agreement of the Calendar for 2017/2018.

Currently the Local Authority was required to set term and holiday dates for community schools, community special schools, voluntary controlled schools, pupil referral units and maintained nursery schools. All schools in England were free to decide when their school day should start and end.

Governing bodies were required to set term and holiday dates in foundation and voluntary aided schools. The academy trust was responsible for the duration of the school year and term and holiday dates for academies and free schools.

The public consultation on the Coventry school terms and holidays dates 2017/2018 took place from 10 March to 24 March 2016 and there were 515 valid replies to the consultation. The most popular of the three options available was Option 1 with pupils beginning their Christmas holidays on Thursday 21 December 2017. This was also the preferred option of other West Midlands Authorities.

Details of the three options for school terms and holidays dates 2017/2018 were set out in the Consultation Document, attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Education:

(1)  Following consideration of the outcome of the public consultation on School Terms and Holidays adopts Option 1 as the School Terms and Holidays Programme 2017/2018 for Community, Voluntary Controlled and Community Special Schools and Maintained Nursery Schools.

(2)  Invites the Catholic and Church of England Diocesan Authorities and the Governors of Trust Schools and Academies to recommend the same calendar for their schools.

Report of the Executive Director of People

The Cabinet Member for Education considered a report of the Executive Director of People that sought approval for the Adult Education Service Fee Strategy for the academic year 2016-2017, based on the requirements of Skills Funding Agency funding and following the changes approved on 10 March 2015 in relation to Adult Education Service fees for 2015-2016 academic year.

The proposed amendments/changes to the fee structure related to:

?  Accredited courses funded through the Skills Funding Agency’s Adult Skills Budget: workplace based courses; and classroom based courses (non-loans). The discrete courses for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities were not being offered for 2016-2017.

?  Non-accredited Community Learning courses: full fees; Passport to Leisure and Learning fees; 60 plus fees; courses incurring additional tutor resource costs; and introductory courses offering progression on to vocational courses.

?  Other fees and charges: crèche; and transport

The Cabinet Member acknowledged the work carried out by Adult Education Service officers, led by Head of Service, Heather Blevins. He referred to the ‘Good’ Ofsted rating that had been achieved for the Coventry Adult Education Service in November 2013 and more recently the ‘Good’ Ofsted rating for the Adult Education Service in Warwickshire, for which Heather was also responsible. To obtain this recognition for both services was a considerable achievement. The Cabinet Member thanked the Head of the Adult Education Service and her Teams for all their hard work and asked that this be passed on to the officers concerned and also placed on record.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Education approves the Adult Education Service Fee Strategy for the academic year 2016-2017.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

Any other items of public business which the Cabinet Member decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.