Council Sets Ambitions in New Education Blueprint

September 12, 2016 by Southend Borough Council

Councillors are to discuss a ten point blueprint for education in the Borough next week (Cabinet, 20th September).

The vision titled ‘Our ambitions for your child’s education’ makes clear the council’s aspirations for children and young people, what they can expect from the council’s education services, and what the council can expect in return from families. The policy sets out the role of the council in education, and supporting schools and families in giving children the best start in life.

The ambitions include promises to continue to encourage the best teachers and the best leaders to work in Southend schools, doing our best to ensure that children receive a place at a local school of their choice, making processes easier to understand and working to ensure that children succeed.

Cllr James Courtenay, Executive Cllr for Children and Learning, says: “I fully recognise the importance of giving children the best start in life and am passionate about ensuring that we achieve that.

“Part of that is about continuing to ensure that we support pupils, parents, carers and schools and setting out what we want to be held to account for, but also what we expect in return to make it happen.

“This policy sets all of that out at a time of continuing change in the education sector. Our aims are deliberately challenging and we may not achieve them all. However we are determined to try our very best and ensure that parents and their children receive the best deal that we can offer.”

The vision follows the recent establishment of a Southend Education Board, which provides a platform for better communication between all stakeholders and the council, allow the board to shape and recommend priorities and targets and most importantly ensure that all young people in Southend-on-Sea get the education that they deserve.

If approved by Cabinet, the document will be launched as the official education policy of the council.