Measures to develop education and skills set for approval
A raft of measures to develop the city’s education and skills infrastructure and expand both mainstream primary school and special school provision are set to be approved by the city council’s Cabinet on Monday 19 January.
The first Birmingham Education Development Plan sets out the city’s strategic approach integrating the development of education infrastructure into the development and regeneration plans for the city for the next five years and supports the wider plan for the city’s growth.
The long term vision for the city is that it will be renowned as an enterprising, innovative and green city that has delivered sustainable growth, meeting the needs of its population and strengthening its global competitiveness. The Education Development Plan (EDP) will support this by ensuring sufficient local Early Years and school places, the maintenance of a sustainable schools infrastructure and the reduction of youth employment through the Youth Promise.
Other reports set to be approved concern the provision of additional primary pupil places and special school places at a total capital cost of around £34million. This is necessary in order to keep pace with the birth rate increase and increase in net migration into the city.
Birmingham City Council cabinet member for Children and Family Services, Cllr Brigid Jones, said: “The Birmingham Education Development Plan will ensure that as homes are built and jobs are created, young people are supported by a first class education infrastructure through which they can acquire the skills they will need to prosper.
“We recognise that the city faces a number of challenges to secure sufficient, suitable, high quality education places and to ensure that our young people are equipped with the skills they need for further education, training and employment. This plan sets out how we will endeavour to work with our key partners to nurture and develop our most valuable asset – our children.â€
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