Agenda item

Agenda item

Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES) Performance Update

Report of the Director of Inclusive Economy and the Head of MAES.

 

This report provides information on MAES’ performance in 2021/22 and the skills challenges in the city.

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the Director of Inclusive Economy and the Head of MAES which outline performance in 2021/22 and the skills challenges in the city. 

 

Key points and themes within the report included:

 

·         Providing an introduction and background to MAES;

·         Current and upcoming projects;

·         Key performance indicators and funding in the 2021/22 teaching year; 

·         Enrolment by each curriculum area;

·         Outcomes of a review of the Quality of Education and areas for improvement;

·         The work of the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Advice Service; and

·         Priorities for the current academic year. 

 

Key points and queries that arose from the committee’s discussions included:

 

·         Welcoming the use of data in the ESOL provision;

·         What a more stable adult education system might look like; 

·         Noting that 61% of people assessed as requiring an ESOL course were enrolled, and querying whether this figure was satisfactory; 

·         Expressing frustration over funding constraints and the impact this had on the support that MAES could provide; and

·         How the service was addressing changing skillset need.

 

The Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure introduced the item and explained that MAES was a successful service which delivered core provisions aligned to the skills needs of the city and city region. He commented that MAES aimed to develop an inclusive economy and to ensure that all Manchester residents had access to the skills they required to participate in the economy. He stated that there were significant funding challenges as the adult education budget had not increased since 2006, which impacted on capacity to deliver, but highlighted success in the opening of a new adult educational facility in the Gorton Hub, which he encouraged committee members to visit. 

 

The Head of MAES reiterated the Executive Member’s comments and explained that the service worked with residents to help them be in a position to enter the job market or undertake further adult education. He commented that MAES aimed to get service users to be economically active by improving their educational prospects. He acknowledged challenges in the service, such as the Covid pandemic which had impacted recruitment, and MAES estate was noted as a significant challenge to being able to provide services. Members were advised that some progress had been made to address this issue, such as reviewing options for the update of Greenheys and Withington Adult Learning Centres. 

 

In response to the Chair’s query regarding the percentage of people accessing an ESOL course, the Head of MAES explained that there was demand but the service was experiencing a lack of funding and staffing resources to meet this. He stated that the service tried to recruit ESOL tutors with limited success and work was underway to develop and train new tutors to deliver this provision. 

 

In response to a supplementary question as to the cause of issues in recruiting ESOL tutors, the committee heard that there was a national shortage. The Head of MAES commented that many adult education providers were developing their own tutors to address the shortfall. 

 

The Head of MAES acknowledged changes to the types of skills needed in the job market as the economy and working practices changed and he stated that MAES would need to examine the service its provides and its clientele. The committee heard that whilst MAES was not a provider of technical skills education, it would seek to identify niches in the market to help service users into careers where there was demand and need. Work was underway with the Work and Skills Team to reduce skill shortages in the digital sector and all learners gain digital skills through their studies with MAES.

 

The Resource and Performance Manager reiterated a previous point that adult education funding rates had not increased since 2006 and this impacted on the amount of funding given to MAES. He commented that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) was undertaking due diligence work on the possibility of providing a 1-year uplift in funding to address impacts of the cost-of-living crisis, following discussion with providers and local authorities. This work also included identifying opportunities to increase rates and funding in the future, which the Chair welcomed. 

 

The Resource and Performance Manager stated that cost pressures in wage inflation and particularly energy prices were impacting the service and would continue to do so in the short and medium term.

 

Decision:

 

That the report be noted.

Supporting documents: