Improving the quality of further education and skills training
Issue
The further education (FE) system – the colleges and training providers that teach vocational qualifications and skills – needs to guarantee students high quality teaching and courses to help students into jobs or university and create the skilled workforce employers need.
Actions
To improve quality and efficiency in FE and skills training, we are:
• reforming the funding and content of 16 to 19 provision through the introduction of study programmes
• making sure that students who haven’t achieved at least a C in maths and English GCSEs continue studying qualifications in these subjects, as set out in the conditions of post 16 funding
• introducing a new funding system based on student loans: it’s for people aged 24+, studying at levels 3 and 4, or for advanced and higher apprenticeships
• freeing colleges from central government control
• improving apprenticeships
• making FE teacher training more professional
• providing better careers advice
• introducing a new traineeships programme to support young people to develop skills for employment, including apprenticeships
• introducing the Technical Baccalaureate (TechBacc) measure
• reforming 16 to 19 vocational qualifications, expanding the provision of work experience and allowing colleges to enrol 14 to 16 year-olds
• identifying the best vocational qualifications as either ‘tech level’ or ‘applied general’ qualifications and ask employers and universities to endorse them, so young people know which courses have the best job prospects
Background
Responsibility for funding post 16 learning in England is shared between the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
In March 2011, an independent review of education for 14 to 19 year olds, the Review of vocational education made a number of recommendations including that we:
• move to ‘per-student’ funding instead of ‘per-qualification’ funding, to make institutions more accountable to learners
• improve the quality of apprenticeships
• expand the teaching of substantial vocational qualifications and the teaching of English and mathematics
• extend the provision of work experience
The government then carried out a public consultation to invite opinions on these recommendations New challenges, new chances: next steps in implementing the further education reform programme.
We also consulted on study programmes for 16 to 19 year-olds.
Using the responses to the consultation, the government published its plans, in December 2011, for the FE sector in New challenges, new chances: further education system and skills reform plan. In July 2012, we published our plans in relation to 16 to 18 provision.
In April 2013 we published an update on ‘New challenges, new chances’ called Rigour and Responsiveness in Skills. This explained the progress we have made in reforming the further education and skills system. We have also published a number of reports and plans on aspects of the system, including:
• Skills for sustainable growth, which sets out the national skills strategy for England
• our plan for further education
• Skills funding statement 2012 to 2016, which contains our budget for skills and the numbers of learners it will support for the next 2 years, set out
• our strategy for investing £550 million in college facilities in the FE college capital investment strategy
• Jason Holt’s independent report on apprenticeships and small businesses, Making apprenticeships more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises: a review by Jason Holt
• Doug Richard’s independent report for the government on the future of apprenticeships, The Richard review of apprenticeships
• our plans to set up chartered status for the further education sector, to help institutions celebrate their success and reputation, Chartered status for the further education sector
• the report by Lord Lingfield on how the further education sector can best serve its users’ needs, Professionalism in further education: final report of the Independent Review Panel
• advice for further education colleges and training providers on 24+ Advanced Learning Loans, 24+ Advanced Learning Loans Student Loans Company learning provider services
• Skills Funding Agency loans - FAQs for further education providers
• ours and our partners’ plans to ensure that young people and adults get the advice they need on learning and work, National Careers Service: the right advice at the right time
• our proposals for piloting community learning trusts, Community Learning Trust prospectus
• our plans for engaging 16 to 24 year-olds in education, training and work, Building engagement, building futures: our strategy to maximise the participation of 16 to 24 year-olds in education, training and work
• a framework for delivery of traineeships, which gives young people, employers and education and training providers information about how traineeships will work in practice
On 12 September 2013 we launched a consultation on changing accountability arrangements for providers of 16 to 19 education and training in England. We are seeking the views of all types of providers, parents and students on reforming performance tables and raising minimum standards in order to improve the quality of further education and training.
Bills and legislation
The Education Act 2011 makes it easier for colleges to make their own decisions. It means that FE colleges can now borrow money without needing permission from the government. Colleges can also change the way they govern themselves, and those rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted no longer have to face routine inspections.
Who we’re working with
• UK Commission for Employment and Skills
• National Apprenticeship Service
• Skills Funding Agency
• National Careers Service
• National Careers Council
Case studies
Community learning helps Michael become a web developer
Michael explains how a Community Learning IT course helped him overcome health issues and start him on the path towards becoming a web developer.
Community learning helps Neil use his artistic skills to improve his career prospects
Neil describes how a Community Learning painting course helped him overcome feelings of social isolation, build his self-esteem and use his artistic skills.
Community learning woodworking course leads Keith into higher education
Keith describes how a Community Learning woodworking course boosted his confidence and put him on the pathway into higher education.
Community learning pottery course helps Anne design and sell a range of homemade ceramics
Anne explains how a Community Learning pottery course helped her overcome social isolation and use her artistic skills.
From:
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
Department for Education
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills