BMBC 21: Barnsleys Local Area Agreement 2008-2011

• Making a positive contribution• Achieving economic wellbeing.High Performing Educational InstitutionsHistorically in Barnsley, attainment levels have been well belowaverage and very few young people and adults attended college orprogressed into higher education. Whilst this can be partly attributed tothe loss of the industrial base, poor employment opportunities andconsequent deprivation experienced by the borough, there were alsofactors relating to the effectiveness of the leadership and managementof schools and the quality of teaching and learning experiences withinthe borough.The main priority of this outcome is to provide high performing learninginstitutions that meet the needs of the Barnsley community in the 21 stcentury. In doing so, Barnsley and its people need to embed a life-longlearning culture, embracing the Remaking Learning agenda.Remaking Learning aims to secure the transformation of learningprovision and includes: primary and secondary re-organisation, wraparoundchild care and family services available at a local level, togetherwith a relevant curriculum for children, young people and adults,improved teaching and learning, effective leadership and governance.This is beginning to have a major impact on results and provision.The priorities for improvement for this outcome over the next 3 yearsare:-• Children’s Centres,• Primary School redevelopment,• Building Schools for the Future,• Barnsley College redevelopment,• Barnsley University Centre.Economic GrowthThe focus of this Outcome is on building a stronger, sustainableeconomy to realise the vision for a 21 st Century Market Town. TheBarnsley economy is now back to the size it was 25 years ago but theGrowth Plan has identified a need to accelerate growth so Barnsley canreach the size it should be in order to contribute fully to the regionaleconomic agenda. At a neighbourhood level it is about working withindividuals and facilitating their transition into the mainstream labourmarket; at a wider level, it is about ensuring the necessary structure isin place to enable firms to access all the support and advice needed tomanage the growth and development of their business.As a result, the emphasis is on increasing employment, partly byworking with the huge numbers of out of work people in Barnsley,developing and growing enterprises, and raising the skills levels of thepopulation.24Barnsley’s Outcomes Framework Barnsley’s Local Area Agreement 2008-11