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 I am delighted to have this opportunity
to introduce this edition of the Education and Training
Yearbook for Wakefield and District. Schools and colleges
have a shared expectation of high achievement for their
learners and last year saw another year of good achievements,
both in academic and vocational courses.
All schools and colleges have a dynamic role to play in the economic, social
and cultural regeneration of the Wakefield District. It is my belief that
the key to increased local prosperity and individual success and fulfilment
is the access afforded to education and training to all who can benefit.
Working in partnership, the local schools and colleges, voluntary sector
organisations and regional universities can, collectively, eradicate the
inequality of educational opportunity.
We’re getting there. Wakefield College’s plans for a multi-million
pound investment in state-of-the-art education and training facilities
to transform our educational landscape are progressing at a fast pace.
The College’s mission is to transform lives and build prosperity,
by attracting young people, adults and employers into learning and by inspiring
them all with excellent opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills – by
fulfilling this mission and by working in partnership with others, we will
ensure the future growth of our District.
This Yearbook tells you something of the rich diversity of educational
opportunities available in the Wakefield District. So – whether you
want academic, vocational or work-based learning, or just to broaden your
horizons – go for it, because the Wakefield District has so much
to offer.
Heather MacDonald
Principal, Wakefield College |
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 As Normanton's MP, I’ve spent
a lot of my time this year supporting our District's
schools, colleges and young people to get the funding
they need to boost educational opportunity in our area.
We have together ensured that Wakefield District would
not lose Aimhigher funding and persuaded the Education
Minister, Ruth Kelly, to commit the Government to ending
the historic funding inequality between FE Colleges
and sixth forms. In October 05, Horbury School won
a £15 million bid to rebuild the school. And
just a few weeks ago, Wakefield was chosen by The National
Young Enterprise Campaign to deliver £500,000
over the next two years to support local enterprising
young people to fulfil their career aspirations and ‘Make
their Mark’.
Our goal is clear – to make sure every child
and teenager gets the best start in life and are able
to stay on at 16 and go on to university or get an
apprenticeship or a vocational qualification.
Next year, there will be lots more work to do - like ensuring more of our young
people stay on at school to get the qualifications and skills they need to
make sure our District's economy continues to grow. Nationally, this year we
will see the publication of the Education Bill which we have to ensure works
to help all schools in our District. Education and enterprise have to be Wakefield
District's top priorities and I am confident that both practitioners and parents
across our District will be up to the new challenges in 2006.
Ed Balls MP, Normanton |
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 As anyone entering a Jobcentre
Plus office in the last few years will know, we have
been transforming the way we deliver our services to
both our individual and employer customers.
By the end of 2006 all Jobcentres and Social Security
Offices will have been made over to Jobcentre Plus,
bringing together all our services to people of working
age under one roof. Indeed in Pontefract we have a
new build office opening in the spring.
This is however, not the end of our improvements. We
are expanding the ways in which we do our business
with all Jobcentre Plus customers/partners.
Our Customer Management System has replaced a process
that relied on customers picking up one or more forms
during office hours, completing and submitting them
with little or no personal contact with our staff.
The changes we have introduced mean that people can
make their claim from their home and a member of staff
will talk them through the claim process and complete
the form on their behalf.
In addition, all our job opportunities are displayed
on the internet (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk) 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week. At any one time, there are
over 400,000 job opportunities available.
By continuously seeking to improve our services in
these ways, Jobcentre Plus nationally helps around
3,000 people into jobs (and pays more than £100
million in working age benefits) every day.
Ian
Hunter
District Manager, West Yorkshire Jobcentre Plus |
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