The current challenges for the Waveney area are to:

Significantly improve the outcomes and life chances of children and young people, particularly in areas of deprivation.

Improve educational performance and skill levels to above the level of similar authorities by increasing the participation rates and attainment fof young people up to the age of 18.

Implement the planned reorganisation of schools from a 3 tier to a 2 tier structure in order to raise standards whilst maintaining local access to local schools.

Have no schools in special measures, where staff recruitment is difficult.

Address the low aspiration and ambition levels.

Address the significant skills and qualifications gap, where rates are below national levels.

Improve the rate of progression into higher and further education, training and employment.

Enhance the range of youth support and careers advice services for young people.

Reverse the “brain drain” whereby Waveney’s young and economically active population are leaving the area for work.

We will:

Strengthen the multi-agency Children’s Trust to produce improved outcomes for children and young people, with educational performance at all ages well above national average levels leading to young adults achieving significantly higher levels of economic prosperity and personal fulfilment than at present.

Ensure that the majority of young people progress and are successful within further and higher education and no schools are in an Ofsted special measures category.

Establish Lowestoft’s reputation as a University town providing additional opportunities for skills development for residents and bringing in new young people from outside Waveney as students. This will also provide further employment supporting and servicing the University (particularly its residential element).

Strengthen the vital role Lowestoft College plays in supporting skills development in the District, seizing the opportunities presented by renewable energy, and offshore technology to ensure education, linking training and vocational courses to skills needed locally for the future.

Deliver a new sixth form college as part of a comprehensive high quality offer for young people in the area and linked to need to raise aspiration, participation and attainment levels.

Strengthen the community and business reach of Lowestoft College and the new sixth form college to ensure that those who cannot easily access the provision in Lowestoft are not disadvantaged.

Raise attainment levels in local schools and tackle low aspiration among young people.

Provide strong local role models and deliver strategies to retain young people in the area and attract new young families to Waveney.