Machinery of Government changes in post 16 education
June 2007 marked the beginning of significant changes around learning provision in post 16 education. These changes came to be known as the Machinery of Government changes (MoG). The changes are laid down in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill (the Bill) which is currently being reviewed before Parliament. The Bill places responsibility on local authorities to provide for apprenticeships, education, training and children's services.
What does this mean?
The responsibility for funding for all learning provision will be transferred from the Learning Skills Council to local authorities from 2010. Funding provision will be divided into two streams: 1-19 years and post 19 years. Two new bodies will be established to cover these different streams. A Young People's Learning Agency will cover funding provision for 0-19 years and a Skills Funding Agency will be established for the funding provision of post 19 years which will be demand led.
The participation age will be raised to 18 years by 2015 (and 17 by 2013). However, it is important to recognise that the remit of participation is not restricted to the formal classroom but allows for alternative, informal participation through various means. For example, employment training and apprenticeships.
To find out more about raising the participation age visit www.dcsf.gov.uk
The current National Qualification Framework will be replaced by the Qualification and Credit Framework from September 2010. This new framework is designed to provide a more personalised and flexible approach to learning, tailored to meet the needs of individual learners more effectively. To find out more about these changes and what they mean for you visit the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency's website.
A statutory framework for apprenticeships means that local authorities have a duty to issue a certificate upon completion. Find out more about this at www.apprenticeships.org.uk
Local education authorities will be responsible for the provision of:
- Learning difficulty assessments for those under the age of 25
- Training for those under the age of 19 as well as accountability for access to transport for this group
- Training for young offenders
- Cooperation with skills bodies
There are, of course, concerns about the implications that such changes will raise; for example, how will a smooth transition of transference of responsibility to local authorities take place? Also, the question needs to be raised as to whether local authorities have the knowledge to understand the kind of learning that can be offered by a Foyer, or 'Foyer like', service provider. Moreover, there is the simple question of equality; how to address the issue where two people, one pre and one post 19, have the same learning needs but not the same access to service provision.
Nonetheless, the Foyer Federation continues to try hard to establish real opportunities for young people and we believe that the proposed changes, if understood in the right context, can lead to a positive impact.
Lifelong Learning UK - easing changes to Further Education
The further education sector is changing. The changes include the requirement to gain the appropriate professional status for those who teach or train in colleges, training centres, the workplace or in the community.
Lifelong Learning UK have set up an information and advice service to talk you throughthese changes and help you with questions about your career in the further education sector. Phone the Lifelong Learning UK information and advice service on 020 7936 5798 weekdays between 9am - 5.30pm or email advice@lluk.org