Agenda and draft minutes

The Committee noted the evacuation and housekeeping procedure.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 2 February 2026.

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2026 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive evidence in respect of the Post 16 Partnership Communication and Marketing Working Group Strand

The Committee received a presentation regarding the Post 16 Partnership Communications and Marketing Working Strand from the Business Development Director at Atomix Educational Trust and the Marketing and Business Engagement Director at the Education Training Collective (ETC). The presentation included:

• Schools that the providers engaged with, which included not only the secondary schools within Stockton-on-Tees Borough but also schools across the Tees Valley area. 
• The type of activities that took place, which ranged from attending school assemblies/events, open events for young people and their parents/carers, taster sessions and campus tours, mock interviews, and career guidance. Holding sessions with successful graduates and digital marketing via the website, social media and digital campaigns were also taking place. While the providers were engaging with all year groups, with ETC highlighting the Your Future workshop designed to engage younger year groups in career choices, the main focus was Years 9, 10 and 11.
• The growth in applications and enrolments. ETC reported a 24.4 % increase in active applications, with a 6.6% increase in Stockton-on-Tees 2026 school leavers application, while Atomix reported an 89.4% year-on-year increase in active applications for Stockton Sixth Form.
• ETC highlighted the challenges they faced in managing capacity at their sites, building new facilities at Bede Sixth Form and NETA. 
• Atomix noted that there was a new team at Stockton Sixth Form College, which were in their second year of their new marketing strategy.
• Partnerships with industry and alignment with local skills. It was noted that local employers, including businesses and the NHS, worked well with local providers. ETC highlighted that employer demand was driving the balance between academic and vocational training, while Stockton Sixth Form highlighted their partnerships with employers to co-create their T-Level curriculum. When members questioned local employer involvement in T-levels, it was noted that it was important to get a round table of employers together to understand the skills and knowledge required for the next generation.
• The collaborative approach to develop a communications and marketing initiative promoting studying in Stockton-on-Tees Borough. This collaboration between providers, careers, and industry, was believed to be key to promoting local provision.
• Data collection that was taking place with students who had left the borough and then returned to study at local colleges as well mystery shopper exercises to competitor colleges. This would provide insights into retention and attraction points. The report on findings from data collection was expected in March 2026. 
• Completed initiatives, which included mapping engagement activity with parents and schools and identifying growth sectors and businesses. It was stressed that it was important to promote creating a life in Stockton-on-Tees, e.g. the value of living, working, playing and studying in the Borough, and place brand messaging had been developed.
• Planned work and next steps to develop resources to encourage school leavers to stay in-borough for their post-16 education. This included a staff engagement toolkit to enable those who came into contact with school leavers throughout schools pose questions and advise on the options available, identifying successful alumni to help  ...  view the full minutes text for item PEO/57/25

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work programme. </AI5>

AGREED the work programme be noted.