The Opportunity Area Programme (2017 – 2022) focused on supporting disadvantaged children and young people, and utilised the DfE’s investment through education to improve social mobility. Close to £15m has been invested in Bradford by the end of the programme which ceased in July 2022.

The Programme Director (former Bradford Opportunity Area) will submit a report (Document “M”) which sets out activity focused on the Bradford South Area.

Recommended –

It is recommended that the programme investment and progress be noted for information including the lessons learned and recommendations from the evaluation report.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

(Kathryn Loftus – 07966133284)

The Opportunity Area Programme (2017 – 2022) focused on supporting disadvantaged children and young people, and utilised the DfE’s investment through education to improve social mobility. Close to £15m has been invested in Bradford by the end of the programme which ceased in July 2022.

The Programme Director (former Bradford Opportunity Area) submitted a report (Document “M”) which sets out activity focused on the Bradford South Area.

It was explained that in 2018 the Bradford Opportunity Area programme was allocated £5.6m (part of the £15m) in funding from DfE to deliver a range of extra-curricular activities that develop non-cognitive abilities, collectively named ‘essential life skills’ (ELS). 

The programme invested in a wide range of activity aimed at tackling social mobility through the lens of education. Appendix 1 summarised activity focused on the Bradford South Area.

The DfE’s Bradford Opportunity Area Programme has now formally come to an end and the DfE are in the process of transitioning to the new Priority Area work and also building a legacy through an ‘Education Alliance for Life Chances’. 

DfE’s Priority Area’s programme identified 55 Education Investment Areas (EIAs) through the Levelling Up White Paper (Feb 2022).The Schools White Paper (Mar 2022), then identified 24 Priority Areas which will see more intensive investment and a package of measures to drive school improvement and improve pupil outcomes. They are a subset of EIAs, and comprise of the 12 former DfE Opportunity Areas and 12 other EIAs that have particularly low attainment and high rates of disadvantage. Bradford is identified as one of these Priority Areas.  The focus for this work is to be confirmed and will be overseen by an independent Partnership Board.

During the discussion a member ascertained how the work undertaken under

the initiative would continue to be supported into the future and what impact

Covid had had during the delivery of the Programme. In response it was

stated that a system had been in place with schools during the pandemic, with

regular meetings held to ensure programme delivery and it was envisaged

that these links will be maintained into the future.  One of the issues that had

came to light during delivery of the Programme was the digital inequalities that

exist and measures had been put in place to address this deficit.

The Chair ascertained if there was an easy read version of the document

available, so that parents and other interested parties could learn lessons and

glean some information from the work undertaken.  In response it was stated

that some of the key messages were being disseminated so it resonated with

communities. The Chair suggested that libraries, community organisations as

well as Councillors would be a good point of contact going forward.

In response to a question regarding a future programme and what work the

Dfe were undertaking to disseminate the work done so far, it was stated that a

new Dfe programme was being envisaged and subject to the funding, links

can be made with the existing programme, stressing that there was a focus

not to try and reinvent the wheel with any new programme that came on

stream.

A Member commented that it was important that the work undertaken so far under the Opportunity Area banner continues and that the Partnership Board should further develop the legacy, with wider representation from the community and voluntary sector.  In respect of locality working more work needed to be done to get a better understanding of the data sets.

The Chair stated that an opportunity might have been missed by choosing to only work in three wards, as there were other areas with huge educational /health challenges. In response it was acknowledged that the ambition should be to work across all areas, and how this can achieved will be looked at.

Resolved –

(1)       That the programme investment and progress be noted for        information including the lessons learned and recommendations   from the evaluation report.

(2)       That the Partnership Board considers extending its activities to           other parts of the Bradford district as soon as possible in         consultation with Ward Councillors and community organisations.

(3)       That a report be submitted in 12 months’ time from the    Partnership Board on the delivery of the new programme

ACTION: The Programme Director

Overview & Scrutiny Committee: Children’s Services

(Kathryn Loftus – 07966133284)