The Education Covenant is a District-wide collaboration composed of public, business, schools, colleges, higher education, non-profit, community, and parents. It serves as a catalyst for organising community efforts and resources around a shared vision: all Bradford’s children and young people will travel a safe, healthy, and successful educational path from cradle to career.

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services will submit Document “Q” which  provides a summary of the progress that has been made in implementing the Education Covenant to increasing the level of support, time and investment from the local community, whether voluntary organisations, businesses, or parents, in children and young people. 

Recommended-

(1)  That the report be considered and the progress made be welcomed.

(2)  That the work of community partners in delivering work with Bradford children and young people undertaken as part of the Covenant be commended.

(3)  That as part of their roles Committee Members promote the Education Covenant.

(Jenny Cryer – 01274 434333)

The Education Covenant was a District-wide collaboration composed of public, business, schools, colleges, higher education, non-profit, community, and parents. It served as a catalyst for organising community efforts and resources around a shared vision: all Bradford’s children and young people will travel a safe, healthy, and successful educational path from cradle to career.

The Strategic Director, Children’s Services submitted Document “Q” which  provided a summary of the progress that had been made in implementing the Education Covenant to increasing the level of support, time and investment from the local community, whether voluntary organisations, businesses, or parents, in children and young people. 

Members were informed of the wide range of activities that were part of the Education Covenant and the staffing resources that had been secured from external partners which included a Schools Liaison Officer from Queens College Cambridge who attended the meeting and spoke about her role around widening the participation agenda and social mobility for the most able but disadvantaged young people.

A Bradford Magistrate attended the meeting and spoke about the Bradford Community Champions who were a team of diverse and very carefully selected individuals.  She reported that when requested a team member would visit a chosen school, engage with the students and talk about their own journeys. They gave inspirational talks to inspire, encourage and motivate their audience; by the end of the inspirational talk the students would have realised the importance school had on their future.

In response to Members questions it was reported that next year there would be developments in the Education Covenant for parents and how they could support their child in their learning.

It was reported that the Education Covenant prospectus detailed all the programmes/activities available for children and young people of all ages, for teachers, school staff and parents.

A Member suggested that where a child was not engaging in education other avenues should be considered such as shadowing someone in their job in a career the young person would be interested in.

In response to the above suggestion the Assistant Director, Performance Commissioning and Partnerships agreed that it could be an area that could be looked into.

It was reported that inspirational talks were normally undertaken during assembly.

A Member suggested whether an achievement reward system could be looked into to encourage children taking part in the various activities.

In response to a Member’s question it was reported that the success of the Industrial Centres of Excellence Programme needed to be developed further; children needed to be able to access high vocational pathways which would be part of the Education Covenant in supporting schools being able to do that.

It was reported that working with voluntary organisations and what they could offer would be the next step in the programme.

Resolved-

(1)       That the progress that has been made in implementing the Education Covenant be welcomed.

(2)       That the work of community partners in delivering work with Bradford children and young people undertaken as part of the Covenant be commended.

(3)       That as part of their roles Committee Members agree to promote the Education Covenant.