Launch event: Opportunity Area plan aims to transform education for Stoke-on-Trent youngsters
Organisations aiming to improve educational opportunities for youngsters in Stoke-on-Trent are invited to the launch of the Opportunity Area Delivery Plan, which sets out clear commitments to transform opportunities for young people across the city.
The launch event, at St Thomas More Catholic Academy on Wednesday March 7 from 5pm to 7pm, will look at what has been achieved so far and the delivery plan for the coming months. Tickets are free and can be booked through Eventbrite here.
The event will include the opportunity to:
- Hear about Opportunity Area priorities
- Get a policy update from the Department for Education, including an overview of the programmes the city will benefit from over the coming months
- Get a better idea of what the programme means in practice for schools, and the education sector
- Hear first-hand from a young person on what social mobility means to them
- Find out more about the funding available in through the Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area and £2.2m available through the essential life skills fund in the city
- Find out how to get involved.
The Stoke‑on‑Trent Opportunity Area partnership board is co-chaired by Professor Liz Barnes, vice chancellor of Staffordshire University and Dr Carol Shanahan, managing director of award-winning local business Synectics Solutions. The board members represent a wide range of sectors across the city, including educators, business leaders, the voluntary sector and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
Together they are working to make sure that all Stoke‑on‑Trent’s children get a good start in life and grow into happy, confident and successful adults, focusing on four priorities:
- Improving outcomes in the Early Years Foundation Stage
- Improving outcomes in English, maths and science
- Improving pupil engagement in learning at all stages
- Improving the choices young people make from 16.
The board is also working to boost parental engagement in all stages of their children’s education, improving and supporting the skills of the teaching workforce, and supporting the emotional wellbeing of pupils and encouraging their appetite to learn.
The full Opportunity Area plan can be found here.
