More money for post-16 learning and skills

Citation

(2003), "More money for post-16 learning and skills", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445cab.001

More money for post-16 learning and skills

More money for post-16 learning and skills

More money is being made available to support post-16 learning and skills in England, but the Government says it must help to bring about radical and sustained improvement and significantly drive up the country's skill levels. Charles Clarke, Education and Skills Secretary, said that the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) would receive more than £8 billion in 2003-2004, rising to £9.2 billion in 2005-2006. "Our education and training system is fundamental to both economic success and social inclusion, and in today's competitive and fast moving world economy, we simply cannot afford to continue with a system that does not provide people with the skills or qualifications they need to carry out their jobs and their lives effectively.… This money is allocated on a something-for-something basis. A vibrant economy needs thriving businesses. They, in turn, need a skilled and flexible workforce, supported by a high-quality and responsive further-education and training system."

Mr Clarke also announced measures to help the LSC and its providers to plan ahead with more certainty over the next three years, and to transform the range of learning on offer. Decisions on funding will be linked to new three-year delivery plans developed by colleges and training providers. The LSC will also, for the first time, be able to carry over unspent funds from one year to the next. "As well as giving the LSC unprecedented levels of investment, we are also giving it the tools to deliver", he said. "The LSC will have maximum discretion about how to use its mainstream funds to deliver our stretching new participation and attainment targets. But we recognize that one size does not fit all. To achieve our vision of a learning society, we must see far greater devolution to the front line. That means giving local people responsibility for deciding what provision is needed in each locality. With that comes a much greater focus on delivery, and I expect the LSC to be totally focused on driving up performance and standards."

Bryan Sanderson, LSC chairman, said: "The council has the opportunity to transform the performance of the learning and skills sector. It is now important to demonstrate results, to be seen to be delivering and to be seen as an exemplar organization, that adds value to its key partners. The increase in funding and new financial flexibilities will help us to achieve our targets over the next three years. The council has a challenging task in turning round a generation of neglect and under-funding in post-16 learning. Our job is to ensure business gets the skilled workforce it needs to compete in the global economy and to change the culture of learning so that every citizen has the opportunity and the ambition to acquire world-class skills needed for successful careers and sustained employment."

The Government has also allocated an extra £130 million to help to cut the number of workers with low-level or no qualifications, by extending employer training pilots. Ministers hope that 90 per cent of 22-year-olds will have participated in a full-time programme fitting them for entry into higher education or skilled employment by 2010. In addition, a new employer-led modern-apprenticeship task force will help to drive the expansion and development of modern apprenticeships.