Agenda item

Section 1 - Terms of Reference

To investigate the state of social mobility within the borough and practical steps which can be taken to ensure that a child’s outcomes are no longer capped “by those of their parents”.

Section 2 – Reasons for the Review

There has been concern around the low level of social mobility within the town for some time and the Government’s Social Mobility Commission has now highlighted the borough as one of the poorest local authority areas in the country for social mobility and the worst in the South East.

Section 3 - Key Objectives of Review

1)     A local perspective on the extent of the problem - What the main challenges are in delivering greater social mobility and practical steps which can be taken by Crawley Borough Council and other organisations to improve the life chances of those growing up in Crawley.

2)     The social mobility index assessed the education, employability and housing prospects of people within the area, therefore it may be possible for the review to be broken down into several subject areas to provide focus.  The national curriculum is organised into blocks of years called ‘key stages’ (KS). At the end of each key stage, the teacher will formally assess the child’s performance – these are identified at the end of scoping document.

3)     Analyse data (within the social mobility index - coldspots/hotspots), and other sources. Filter various sections to identify areas to provide focus. 

Section 4 - What will not be included in the scope (and why)

1)     TBC

Section 5 - Key Documents and Background Information

1) Social Mobility Index Data – It will be important to ascertain the value of the data. Whilst Crawley on the “Overall Rankings South East” tab may be last on the Overall Score, this may not necessarily be the case in all areas.  On other scores for example ‘% of young people eligible for Free School Meals at age 15 entering higher education at selective university by age 19’, Crawley scores 88.  Similarly, ‘Median weekly salary of employees who live in the local area’ is 94.

2) WSCC Review of Education and Skills Annual Report Summary 2016/17 - Report from the Task and Finish Group, which was considered on 14 March 2018

3) Information and evidence from key CBC Officers – Housing, Community Development and Economic Development.

4) information and evidence from key CBC Officers – Update on the Crawley Employment & Skills Plan 2016- 2021

5) Potential witness sessions or request for update from WSCC Councillors/officers from WSCC.

6) Potential witness sessions with community partners.

If will be important to take into consideration the current officer(s) resources in terms of

gathering data and evidence.

Section 7 - Site Visits and Attendance at Events

Location/Event

Education establishments (schools)

Date

June/July 2018

Purpose of Visit

Liaise with Head teachers regarding thoughts/views.  Would be interesting to obtain views of cross-section of school children on their career aspirations.

Section 8 - Community Engagement Proposals

Potentially this could become a huge review but it is proposed to keep this review more proportionate, by focusing on where it can add most value. 

The social mobility index assessed the education, employability and housing prospects of people within the area, therefore it may be possible for the review to be broken down into several subject areas to provide focus.

Section 9 – Planning the Panel’s Work Programme

Date (prov)

Details: (e.g. witnesses, objectives etc.)

Projected start date

March

1^st panel meeting

17 April

Background report and scoping framework

In between Meeting 1 and Meeting 2 the following may be actioned:

·        Chair to write letter to Head teachers requesting attendance to discuss thoughts / views and also if possible to obtain views of cross-section of school children of their careers aspirations

·        Chair to draft standard questions for discussion with Head teachers and email to Panel Members and Lead Officers.

·        Lead Officers to invite witnesses to attend the relevant meeting.

·        Panel Members to identify clear set of questions to ask representatives from CBC Housing.

2^nd panel meeting

13 June

Housing focus

In between Meeting 2 and Meeting 3 the following may be actioned:

·        Dependent on response from educational establishments, panel members to meet with a selection of Head teachers and if possible obtain views of cross-section of school children of their careers aspirations and thoughts.

·        Panel Members to identify clear set of questions to ask representatives regarding Employment and Skills.

3^rd panel meeting

23 July

Employment focus

In between Meeting 3 and Meeting 4 the following may be actioned:

·        Analyse evident required for 4^th Panel meeting.

·        Identify clear set of questions to ask representatives from WSCC.

4^th panel meeting

11 Sept

Education focus

5^th panel meeting

3 Oct

Finalise recommendations

6^th panel meeting

6 Nov

If required – draft report.

Section 10 - Resources and Responsibilities

Chair of Scrutiny Panel

Cllr K Sudan

Other Members of Scrutiny Panel

Cllrs

M L Ayling, T G Belben, R A Fiveash, I T Irvine,

K L Jaggard, K Sudan and L Vitler

Lead Officer(s)

Head of Community Services - Chris Harris

Scrutiny Support

Democratic Services Officer - Heather Girling

Portfolio Holder

Cllr P K Lamb

Head of Service

Head of Community Services

Section 11 - Reporting Arrangements

Committee/Body

Date (prov.)

Final report of Panel to Overview and Scrutiny Commission

Jan or Feb 2019

Final report to Cabinet (as appropriate)

Feb 2019

Final report to other Committee, full Council or Body (as appropriate)

TBC

Section 12 - Monitoring/Feedback Arrangements

Body/Committee

Details

Date

OSC

TBC

Section 13 - Approvals

Details

By whom

Date

Terms of reference/Panel agreed

OSC

19.3.18

Scoping Framework - drafted

Democratic Services

26.3.18

Scoping Framework - first agreed

Panel

17.4.18