The National Council for Educational Excellence has published its recommendations about school and college links with businesses and HE institutions, and about how early years, schools and colleges can work together to help raise standards. The Council’s work builds on the huge range of successful work that is already happening across the country, and aims to make sure that schools and students from Brighton to Burnley can experience the benefits.
‘Building Stronger Partnerships’ is a practical guide for business, schools, colleges and others - it sets out the priority areas where employers can make the most difference, and explains how to go about making links and starting to work together.
The full Council met with the Prime Minister at the end of October to discuss practical steps to put the proposals into practice, including draft plans for Government activity to respond to the recommendations – and for how Council members can individually contribute to this work over the coming year.
Background
The National Council for Educational Excellence (NCEE) was established by the Prime Minister in June 2007.
It brings together influential business people and Vice Chancellors with leaders from early years providers, schools and colleges. Its remit is to contribute to raising standards and achieving educational excellence. To achieve this, the Council has set out to mobilise businesses and universities to work with schools and colleges, and to promote links between schools.
Council members have worked this year to develop recommendations about where we should focus our efforts – what the business and HE sectors can do, and what schools and colleges can do themselves to improve outcomes for children. Identifying a short list of priorities is a significant and important development – over the next year the Council will work alongside Government to mobilise businesses, universities and the education sector around these priorities
