Double success for lifelong learners

Cheshire East Council has received two excellent pieces of news which further emphasises its commitment to securing the best outcomes for all learners.

The national achievement rates tables (NARTs) have been published by the Skills Funding Agency which highlight key indicators of performance in education and training at 19 years and over.

This data is used by organisations across the country to benchmark their own targets and actual performance against other organisations, both locally and nationally.

Learners supported and monitored through the Cheshire East lifelong learning team have achieved the highest overall achievement rates across the Cheshire and Warrington areas. The Cheshire East rate of 94 per cent compares very strongly to the regional average of 78 per cent and a national average of 84 per cent.

The Cheshire East lifelong learning team was also subject to an Ofsted inspection in June with the final report letter recently being published.

The inspection continues to judge the quality of provision as ‘good’ and there were many positive comments within the report which promoted high student achievement, strong leadership and quality assurance processes across a range of providers and effective governance.  The Ofsted comments included:

‘You have ensured that learners continue to receive good quality education and training.

Learners benefit from teaching, learning and assessment which is of a consistently high

standard and which ensures that most make good progress’;

‘Managers use effective quality improvement strategies to ensure that the quality of courses, including that delivered by subcontractors, is of a good standard’; and

‘Experienced governors are determined to provide courses that support community improvements and work with the most disadvantaged people in the local area’.

Councillor George Hayes, cabinet member for children and families, said: “These two excellent outcomes for the council reflect our total commitment to supporting learners beyond school age in order that they have the necessary skills, training and qualifications for a successful transition into employment.

“Many of our learners, supported through the lifelong learning team, have varying levels of vulnerability and may not have succeeded well at an earlier age. To see them now achieve and develop new skills and abilities to go forward into employment is something which makes me very proud.

“I want to thank all the staff within the lifelong learning team and provider organisations who have worked very hard to support our students – and also the learners themselves, who are maintaining such high success rates in Cheshire East.”