You said: We should raise community aspirations and encourage everyone to strive to achieve their potential

Learning and earning - Helping us all reach our potential

  • although there were some worries many of you feel very positive about the current performance of Nottinghamshire schools and quality of education generally and believe this is important to improve the quality of jobs in the county. You told us that for children with additional needs you want improved transition from nursery to school, primary school to secondary school and secondary school to further training
  • local businesses want us to support training that meets their current and future needs. They also asked us to work with them to improve job quality by connecting industries with communities, and by developing the links between schools, colleges and business
  • you are unhappy about how local partners are tackling deprivation, the economy and unemployment. Focus groups tell us not to forget those on benefits and the poverty that leads from unemployment. You feel that provision to ease the transition from education to work will help people aspire to and access the best quality training and jobs
  • older people tell us that they are active participants in their communities, in terms of lifelong learning, employment and volunteering
  • all ages and cultures say it's important not to forget that learning and education for its own sake is fundamental to our quality of life
  • economic prosperity depends on encouraging enterprise and this can be helped by providing good infrastructure, stimulating investment, local procurement, higher level skills and economic diversity.

We know:

That in 2004, the percentage of 16 year olds achieving five or more GCSE higher grade passes in Nottinghamshire was below the national average and below that of similar authorities. Pupils' performance varies across the county with pupils in former coalfield areas performing below those in other areas.

'Small firms are crucial to the future health of the county's economy.'

Our economic productivity is two per cent less than across the East Midlands and 12 per cent less than the average for Great Britain. The county's economy is changing and sectors such as tourism and creative industries are becoming more important, as the jobs market changes. This is creating demands for new and enhanced skills.

The county has substantially fewer businesses per 1,000 population than the region and the country. In recent years however, some parts of the county - including Mansfield and Ashfield - have been creating businesses faster than the rest of the county. We also know that small firms are crucial to the future health of the county's economy and that support for business formation and survival and for new and innovative businesses and social enterprises is therefore very important.

The region recorded employment growth from 1998 but the county's overall employment rate declined. In the same period, Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Newark and Sherwood recorded levels of growth above the national average.

'We need to ensure equality of opportunity.'

Skills and qualification levels are relatively low; the county has fewer people qualified at high level (NVQ4) than the country as a whole, though more than in the region.

Employment rates are quite high, though almost five per cent below those of the region. Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Newark and Sherwood have employment rates which are considerably higher than the national average. We need to ensure equality of opportunity and can encourage employment through stimulating child care and other measures to encourage those excluded by circumstances - including older people and young parents - back to the labour market.

The county's unemployment rate is comparable with the national average, but worklessness is a major problem in certain areas of the county. Local employment and local companies can be stimulated though the wider use of local labour agreements and local procurement and contracting.

Extended schools can play a major role in bringing parents and communities into education and training as well as promoting leisure, health, sport and recreation, reducing anti-social behaviour and developing links to adult, lifelong and further education opportunities.

How do you rate this information / service?