Further Education White Paper published

Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances, sets out a programme of reform for the learning and skills sector

‘The proposed reforms will equip the sector to deliver the Department for Education and Skills’ 14-19 and Skills Strategies, and meet the enormous challenge of future skills needs for the economy that is being mapped out in Lord Leitch’s current review.

The White Paper sets out a comprehensive programme to transform the FE system into an efficient and effective powerhouse for economic prosperity and social mobility. It is the Department’s formal response to Sir Andrew Foster’s excellent review, Realising the Potential, and it accepts the overwhelming majority of his recommendations. In drawing up this White Paper, the Department has also listened to the views of colleges and training providers, employers, learners and regional, local and sectoral partners. The generous spirit in which ideas have been shared and the commitment this demonstrates to achieving the vision is a tribute to the FE system, for which Government extends its thanks.

The key proposals include:

• a new economic mission for FE, supporting a fairer society;
• encouraging providers to specialise;
• putting employers and learners at the heart of what we do;
• an entitlement to first level 3 qualifications for 19-25 year olds;
• trialling learner skills accounts;
• new freedoms for the best performing colleges and training providers, coupled with support for improvement and tougher, speedier intervention to combat poor performance;
• reduced bureaucracy, including reforms within the Department and the Learning and Skills Council; and
• increased contestability, giving new providers the opportunity to enter the system.’

For more information, visit the DfES Further Education website.

Source: LSC Success for All website