Further education

Further education colleges which fail their students could be handed over to private companies, under plans recommended to the education secretary.

 

The Foster review of further education (FE) also said on Tuesday that ministers must provide strong leadership and more coherent policies to assist the sector.

 

Sir Andrew Foster warned that the UK is lagging behind its international competitors, and added that the situation is deteriorating.

 

Government Response: Ruth Kelly

 

Education secretary Ruth Kelly said: "This report marks a once in a generation opportunity to reform and invest in our historically undervalued further education sector.

 

"I welcome Sir Andrew's report and agree with him that colleges need a clearer purpose, improved leadership and a sharper focus on the specific needs of learners and business.

 

"To realise the potential that the report describes will allow colleges to achieve their rightful place as the engines of economic progress and social mobility.

 

"FE colleges have a vital role to play in keeping young people engaged in education and training.

 

"They must also help the millions of adults without qualifications in literacy and numeracy, supporting them to gain the skills and qualifications for productive, sustainable employment and to keep progressing on as far as their talents and interests can take them.

 

"It is right that we prioritise college funding on these priority groups and ask those who can afford to pay to contribute more to the cost of their courses. For the increased investment in FE to continue we need better quality teaching and higher standards.

 

"There need to be tougher penalties for colleges which fail their students and a new approach to assisting students to complete their courses. We also strongly support Sir Andrew Foster's call that we continue to eradicate the unnecessary bureaucracy which will further release resources for the front line.

 

"We need to build a dynamic, responsive FE college network that meets the needs of employers, drives up productivity and improves the employment prospects of learners."

 

 

Opposition Response: Liberal Democrats

 

Liberal Democrat education spokesman Edward Davey said: "Foster raises huge question marks about Labour's whole policy on adult education. If Ruth Kelly adopts Foster's plans for adult skills in her speech she must tell us where that extra cash will come from.

 

"Adult learning and skills are becoming more and more important as the workforce ages but the issue has been abandoned by Labour.  

 

"Thousands of workers need to retrain and re-skill mid career yet this report shows that many are missing out.  

 

"Foster is a breath of fresh air after all the regulation and quangos Labour has piled on further education."

 

 

Stakeholder Response: Learning and Skills Council

 

 

Chris Banks, chairman of the Learning and Skills Council, said: "Sir Andrew's report is a useful contribution and clearly makes the crucial link between the FE sector and the ability of this nation to compete successfully in a global market.

"It articulates the need for higher quality provision, linked to innovative delivery for both employers and individuals. It endorses many of the aspirations of agenda for change and we look forward to providing a full response to Sir Andrew early in 2006."

 

Stakeholder Response: UCET

 

 

A spokesman for UCET told ePolitix.com: "We welcome the publication of Andrew Foster's report and look forward to the government's response. We welcome, in particular, the recognition that the inspection regime needs to be rationalised, and the need for more investment in pedagogical skills and leadership.

 

"This, along with the provision of other forms of CPD, is something that UCET members are ideally placed to deliver.

 

"We are less enthusiastic about the apparent downgrading of the sectors' role in respect of inclusion, which should be given parity to its role in meeting the country's economic needs. We do not believe that the two can be separated."

 

 

Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

 

 

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: "The changes envisaged in this report will require proper funding, and the first important step will be to re-address the 13 per cent pay gap between professionals who teach in schools and those who teach in colleges.

 

"It is essential that the work of staff across the sector is recognised and rewarded equally, irrespective of the institution in which they work.

 

"Although there is some evidence of underperformance in a number of institutions, a great deal of high quality provision is being delivered by an increasingly 'casualised' workforce - this hard work is much appreciated by students.

 

"Given that the government's proposed diplomas for the 14-19 phase will require major input from the FE sector, it is vital that this funding gap is quickly addressed."

 

 

Stakeholder Response: Secondary Heads Association

 

 

Martin Ward, SHA deputy general secretary, said: "I am pleased that the report underlines the unique role that further education plays.

 

"The further education sector fulfils a critical and specific need for a vast number of students, and for the economy. I hope this report will convince the government to give colleges the priority and commitment they require and deserve.

 

"SHA also welcomes the call for clearer and simpler accountability systems for colleges with lighter, centralised control. In the past, there have been too many government initiatives for further education, and they have often been erratic, conflicting and misguided.

 

"The proposal to close or take over less successful FE colleges is imprudent and short-sighted. There is a vogue in government for quick and easy ‘fixes’ when sustained support would produce better results.

 

"There are any number of reasons why colleges fall into difficulty and many of them are outside colleges’ control. Colleges which are trying to educate students in difficult circumstances need even more support from government, not more threats.

 

"A funding system based on needs and resources is long overdue. I hope the report will finally convince the government to address the funding imbalance in further education and ensure that college funding is improved to the same level as other sectors.

 

"Disappointingly, the unique position and role of sixth form colleges, and the excellence of their provision for young people, has been given little prominence.

 

 

Stakeholder Response: Institute of Directors

 

 

IoD director general Miles Templeman said: "Despite some criticism of the FE sector, the experience of IoD members of FE colleges is pretty positive.  FE colleges play an important part in providing employers and their staff with key skills; we also want to see FE colleges properly funded.   

 

"We now need colleges to have greater freedom from the LSC and DfES but we don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water, colleges still need to be thoroughly inspected."