How will Kent’s education system meet the needs of the future? Cllr John Simmonds, who lives in Whitstable and is the cabinet member for education and school improvement, explains in this exclusive article about Towards 2010, Kent County Council’s masterplan for the next four years

AS AN authority, Kent has a prime objective to make the county prosperous for all.

Education has a key role to play and in our Towards 2010 prospectus, we have set out our stall.

To understand our educational priorities, we should look ahead to the political and economic shape not only of Kent, but the UK, and the world outside.

We are the gateway to Europe, the opportunities are huge.

Where do our problems lie? No longer are there large employers soaking up huge labour resources.

The big industrial giants have all realised that they cannot compete with China, India and the emerging Asian nations. When it comes to mass production, they can do it as well if not better than us and certainly cheaper.

Kent is primarily a county with a large number of small businesses. We have a dependence on service industries though more manufacturing and high-tech businesses would enhance our economy.

We do have some excellent business parks and a strong university environment, which plays its part in the economy. Service industries, tourism, retail and call centres do employ large numbers of Kent people, but can be severely affected by economic recession and, for tourism additionally, the threat of terrorism is an inhibiting factor.

We need a mixed economy. Where we can succeed is in those hi-tech skills and value- added products which call for a highly skilled workforce.

Such areas include IT, software products, hi-tech science and engineering, and pharmaceuticals. To succeed here our students will need significant qualifications and high skill levels. We also have to ensure that there are job opportunities for those who do not become well qualified.

At present there is no shortage of jobs at the bottom end of the market. However, they are often repetitive with little chance of advancement.

These are essential jobs but competition in this market is growing with the influx of East Europeans particularly, coming to Britain to take on what they perceive as well paid jobs.

We need to ensure that Kent’s youngsters can compete in this market, but also help them to advance in whatever career they choose. Employers, too, have a responsibility here and need to look at how best to support their workforce.

It is against this background that we as an education authority have a responsibility to provide our students with the opportunity to acquire skills, which give them the chance to gain the right employment.

By and large, the better qualified the students, the more choice they have, the more employers will want to employ them, but we do have responsibility for all.

How can we achieve this? We need to provide better and more sophisticated careers advice; better information to help in the choice of university and course, the same for further education establishments, and more help and awareness to those seeking employment, rather than further education.

Some schools already do this very well but we have a responsibility as an authority to ensure that this quality advice is available.

We have pioneered in Kent vocational education starting at 14, predominantly for those who wish to acquire those skills tailored to the needs of industry and commerce, which lead to a professional qualification alongside suitably amended curriculum needs.

There is a shortage of skilled youngsters available for the workplace and we have a responsibility to provide them. This will give Kent’s students additional opportunities to achieve a career with a future.

Employers sometimes infer that we do not provide youngsters with the right skills. We do not agree with this – but we do need to listen to what employers want and see if we can help to give them what they want. We recognise that the students cannot learn vocational skills in a vacuum, they need to enjoy relevant work experience in the workplace, and we have our own placement company, Kent Works, to do this.

We are talking with a number of companies from large to small employers.

We aim in our 2010 document to create 1,000 apprenticeships, some of which will be with KCC, and to have 4,000 students undertaking vocational qualifications.

If we are to be successful, it needs to be a partnership between KCC and Kent companies and employers so we need more employers to come forward.

So what do we hope to achieve?

1 To ensure Kent’s children are as well educated as possible (our prime responsibility), have the right skills for the workplace, and are well prepared for the world of employment and further education. Employers want good literacy and numeracy standards to go with other basics such as appearance, speech and behaviour.

2 To ensure that those who go to further education establishments are aware of where their course could lead them and what the opportunities are for employment.

3 To ensure that those who go to university are following the right courses.

4 To encourage employers large and small to set up and expand businesses in Kent as we have the right environment, labour force, skills, land and accessibility. From this will come the prospect of full employment in Kent, including the encouragement of graduates, and all skilled youngsters to stay in Kent instead of migrating.

If we get this right for our students, then all Kent will benefit. From this will come regeneration particularly in areas of deprivation, and growth throughout the county.

Education is a key component but still a part of a thoroughly joined-up strategy where everybody can benefit.