Agenda item

To inform Cabinet about a joint £1.2million investment by Anglia Ruskin University and IntoUniversity. A new IntoUniversity learning centre will open in Clacton in September 2017 and, together with its associated programmes for both children and young people in primary and secondary schools, will support educational attainment and aspirations of young people within Tendring.

That the contents of the report be noted.

Councillor G V Guglielmi declared a non-pecuniary interest in the subject matter of this item insofar as his wife (Councillor V E Guglielmi) was a Trustee of TeenTalk.

Councillor I J Henderson declared a non-pecuniary interest in the subject matter of this item insofar as his wife (Councillor J Henderson) was an appointed Observer on behalf of Harwich Town Council of the activities of TeenTalk.

There was submitted a report by the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Well-being and Partnerships (Report A.4), which informed Cabinet about a joint £1.2 million investment over five years by Anglia Ruskin University and IntoUniversity.  A new IntoUniversity learning centre would open in Clacton-on-Sea in September 2017 and together with its associated programmes for both children and young people in primary and secondary schools, would support educational attainment and aspirations of young people within the District of Tendring.

Cabinet was aware that the Council’s Corporate Plan 2016-2020 put Community Leadership at the heart of everything the Council undertook and within that context, education and the raising of educational attainment and aspirations within the Tendring District had been, and continued to be, a priority.

It was reported that the Council had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Anglia Ruskin University (and Essex County Council [ECC]) on 10^th June 2014.  As well as raising attainment levels and aspirations, the parties had agreed to work together in collaboration to share information, experience, materials and to develop effective working practices. This had included the University supporting the work of the Tendring Education Improvement Group, exploring opportunities for supporting teacher development and training in Tendring schools and developing employability with young people in Tendring.

Cabinet was informed that the MOU with Anglia Ruskin University had been reviewed in February 2016, through a joint meeting with the University, ECC and this Council. The Council’s Leisure, Wellbeing and Partnerships Portfolio Holder and Head of People Performance and Projects had attended this meeting and had provided feedback about this Council’s education initiatives and workstreams and how the Council was using its influencing role to support school attainment and raise aspirations across the District.

Members were advised that IntoUniversity and Anglia Ruskin University had recently formed a partnership to launch a new IntoUniversity centre in the District of Tendring to serve at least 900 children and young people, commencing in Autumn 2017. IntoUniversity and Anglia Ruskin University were jointly investing a total of £1.2 million into development of the new centre which would ensure that the project could run for at least 5 years.  IntoUniversity offered long term support to young people, and to date no centre that has been opened had subsequently been closed.

It was felt that that this joint initiative was an excellent example of community leadership and partnership working, with Anglia Ruskin University supporting the Tendring District directly to enhance educational standards and aspirations.  With investment over five years, the partnership aimed to have a significant positive impact on the futures of children and young people across the District.

Having considered the information submitted, it was moved by Councillor McWilliams, seconded by Councillor G V Guglielmi and:

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.