Walsall Children's Services

What will make the most difference to the life chances of our young people in Walsall?

The answer, without doubt, is to give them the best level of education and skills possible, and so equip them for success in the future.

The 14-19 Team at Walsall Children's Services has been set up to enable all our young people to acquire the skills, attributes and qualifications required for success.

You will have read a great deal in the press about changes to the curriculum, and exam structure, for our secondary age students. Although there is still a lot to find out from the government about the details of this, everyone is agreed that young people should enjoy their education and achieve their best through access to a motivating and flexible curriculum which allows them to learn in a style, and at a pace, which suits their own individual needs.

Over the next few years, the qualifications on offer to young people will be changing. Each student will be entitled to follow the kinds of courses which allow access to continued success in the outside world, either in training, employment or continued education. These will include a basic standard in the skills necessary for life and work so that they achieve economic well being and live healthily and safely. They could also include some new vocational qualifications, designed to give young people a head start in the job market, or to use to progress to further and higher education if they so choose.

Of course, our students will need help advice, and guidance to ensure they choose the most suitable courses and pathways.All young people must be stretched to achieve so that they are learning, doing their best and making a positive contribution to their own community and society in general.

Below are the details of each student’s “entitlement” which schools will be working with:

Ensuring Inclusion

14 – 19 learners are entitled to access a wide range of occupational, vocational and academic pathways with parity of esteem and different methods of teaching, training, learning and assessment to meet their individual needs.

Working in Partnership

In order to meet the needs of all learners, collaborative learning communities will develop which support partners in increasing the flexibility of the curriculum offer.

Celebrating Achievement

Schools and communities working together can develop a culture of learning and an ethos of celebrating achievement

Promoting Excellence

Quality secondary provision has to be coherently planned and managed to maintain consistency and diversity avoid fragmentation of the system.

Encouraging Progression

Young people are entitled to impartial and timely advice and guidance before, during and on leaving the 14-19 phase

The government’s 14-19 agenda will impact on young people through:

The Curriculum