Government Offices work with regional partners towards a number of education objectives, including raising regional levels of educational attainment in line with National Learning Targets and locally agreed targets. We also aim to widen participation in all levels of learning and education, contribute to regional social inclusion, ensure appropriate attendance and behaviour, improve the employability of individuals and improve the responsiveness of the regional education institutions.
More information on the national picture
Schools - Regional Picture
Educational Attainment
Our Children’s Services Advisers (CSAs) are responsible for four/five
local authority areas each. They have a key role in supporting the Local
Authority Director of Children’s Services in improving standards in
conjunction with the senior regional director of National Strategies in the
West Midlands.
The CSAs pay particular attention to those Schools where performance is
lagging behind. They have a particular responsibility for ensuring that all
children receive a good education wherever they live. Key Government
targets called Floor Targets set a minimum standard for all Schools and
CSAs will discuss with the Local Authority where progress is not fast
enough. Other tools used by the CSA will include looking at the performance
of different groups of pupils to ensure that additional help is given to
groups at risk of falling behind.
We are giving priority to improving educational opportunities for
children in care. Currently there are around 7000 children in care in the
West Midlands and their average level of achievement when they leave school
is much lower than for children living at home and very few stay on in
education when they reach 16 or go into Further or Higher Education.
Government Office for the West Midlands Young People's Team works
with regional Field Forces to achieve a sustainable and significant
reduction in the number of young people not in education, employment or
training. Unless we can engage these young people into training
opportunities they are likely to face a future of low paid work, and much
higher risks of unemployment.
Healthy Schools
Through our Healthy Schools co-ordinator we work directly with Schools in
all of our 14 Local Authorities to help them meet the new and more
challenging Healthy Schools status.
