Bridgend County Borough Council

What is a Learning Community?

A Learning Community is one where school and community work in partnership to provide activities for the mutual support and benefit of all.

Bridgend plans to realise this vision by working collaboratively with schools, communities and external partners.

There is no 'blueprint' for this development, as each school and community will have differing needs and priorities and will begin its development from a different baseline.

However each Learning Community will:

Support the school to educate and promote high standards of educational achievement among children and young people

Promote and provide lifelong learning opportunities

Facilitate the development of schools as a centre for delivering services

Build partnerships with statutory and non statutory organisations

Engage with the community through consultation and involvement in decision making

Maximise resources and make best use of community facilities including using the school site in the evening, weekends and school holidays

Individual schools or families of schools will be at the heart of their communities, by not only providing education and training but also working in partnership to provide a range of services and learning opportunities for children, young people and adults. This development however is not a short term venture or one to be developed in isolation. In order to fully realise this agenda it will involve sharing common goals, true commitment and extensive partnership working between the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.

What is happening in Bridgend?

In order to strategically develop Learning Communities, Bridgend Council established a Consultative Group which consisted of representatives from Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations (BAVO), Bro Morgannwg Trust, Communities First, Children and Young People's Partnership, Community Safety Partnership, Children's Directorate, Health and Well Being Directorate and four Head Teachers.

The CFS Grant has supported 72 projects in 38 schools

Audits have been completed with every school to establish a baseline for development, this information has been incorporated into 'community clocks'

Two strategic documents have been developed and approved by cabinet - Learning Communities Strategy for 2010 - 2013 and the LC:CFS Policy and Guidance Document

A 'school sign up' initiative has been launched which demonstrates schools commitment to this agenda. This commitment has been included as part of the criteria for accessing CFS funding

The Learning Communities Team in partnership with the Property Department have developed a Community Use Agreement to support schools to open the facility for community use

Two conferences have been held to raise awareness of developments, consult with a variety of partners and to celebrate achievements

Training on developing Learning Communities was held for Governors

A pilot project was established which involved employing two Learning Communities Area Co-ordinators to work with families of schools and communities within targeted areas

If you require more information please contact the Learning Communities Team