One city for all, 2023 to 2027

We want children to recognise a positive future for themselves no matter their present circumstances. We want all ages to have access to learning throughout their lives and to equip them with the skills to succeed commercially and socially, both locally and nationally.

We’ll support our schools to support our young people and work collaboratively with employers to define skills and work with social care staff to promote training for carers.

York has over 3,500 children and 6,500 older people living in poverty and approximately 12,500 people living in fuel poverty. The gap between education attainment varies across the city and a lack of adult social care and construction skills are causing recruitment and delivery issues.

Key statistics

• Education attainment 75.3% (data source: Department for Education - Key stage 4 performance).
• Equivalent to GCSE level C+: 7.3% York average, 56.1% National average, 57.7% Lowest ward, 91.7% Highest ward.
• 17 of York’s Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOA) are within the most deprived 10% of LSOAs in England in terms of children and young people’s education and skills; a LSOA is a geographic hierarchy designed to improve the reporting of small area statistics in England and Wales (data source: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government - Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019).
• Adults skills equivalent of a Level 4 (degree or higher): 59.3% York average (data source: ONS - 2021 Census TS067), 43.5% North average (data source: Annual Population Survey 21/22), 38% Nationally, 22.5% Lowest ward, 58% Highest ward.

What we will do

1. Working with the Skills Board, deliver the ambitions set out in the Skills Strategy 2020-2030.
2. Provide outstanding and inclusive education:
   1. Implement the York Inclusive Schools Charter, exploring options with York Schools and Academies Board and the Maintained Schools Network to enhance or replace existing kitemark schemes to better celebrate all aspects of the life of the school.
   2. Develop the relationship between schools, family hubs and learning centres, such as Sanderson House, in collaboration with other services and universities.
   3. Work across the region to highlight the funding challenges across early years settings, schools and colleges, working with local and regional partners to explore different opportunities.
   4. Continue to work in close partnership with the universities and college to deliver for the city, welcoming students to communities and identifying opportunities to unlock the power of education for public good.
3. 3. Build and retain an outstanding social care workforce:
   1. Work with local education providers to promote better training for the social care workforce and the Social Care Forum.
   2. Provide additional training for social carers from the council and partners.
   3. Work with secondary schools to raise awareness of the skills needed to have a career in social care.
   4. Continue to promote apprenticeships as a route into social care.
4. 4. Promote pathways to employment:
   1. Work with the Skills Board to deliver the 10-year Skills Strategy, providing opportunities for apprenticeships and promoting the range of career options and pathways across the city, focused on sector specific skills based on local market information.
   2. Develop and implement the Adult Learning Strategy, working closely with the Combined Authority.
   3. Invite the Skills Board to review the curriculum to develop skills needed by York’s economy.
   4. Develop green skills, progressing to quality qualifications and employment, including the green skills of our own workforce focused on retrofitting council homes.
   5. Continue to work with careers leaders to embed the Gatsby Standards.
   6. Develop the Supported Internship Hub to support young people with SEND to access employment.

Key performance indicators

Council delivery:

• Free School Meals - Primary and Secondary

City outcomes:

• % of children who have achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD) at Foundation Stage
• % of pupils achieving 9-4 or above in English & Maths at Key Stage 4 (C or above before 2016/17)
• % of working age population qualified - to at least L2 and above*
• % of working age population qualified - to at least L4 and above*