Changes to post-19 skills system proposed

Summary

The changing nature of the world economy makes increasing participation in education and training an urgent necessity. In the system for young people, responsibility and accountability is given to local authorities for the whole 14-19 age range. They will provide a place in learning for every young person through strategic commissioning.

This consultation paper, 'Raising Expectations: Enabling the System to Deliver' (Cm. 7348), sets out the Government's proposals for supporting participation and achievement for young people and reforming the post-19 skills system to secure better outcomes for adults.

Proposed measures include:

Local authorities will cluster together in sub-regional groupings reflecting travel-to-learn patterns to commission provision across the wider local area. A Young People's Learning Agency will supplement this structure, have responsibilities for budgetary control, and secure coherence if agreement cannot be reached locally.
There will be a progressive devolution of power to the sub-regional level. The main mechanism to hold local authorities to account will be the performance criteria set out in the 'Strong and Prosperous Communities' (Cm. 6939) white paper.
With the adult sector the Government proposes a demand-led system and the integration of employment and skills, this latter requiring close co-operation between the Departments for Children Schools and Families and Innovation, Universities and Skills, as set out in 'Opportunity, Employment and Progression: Making Skills Work' (Cm. 7288).
A new Skills Funding Agency will manage the framework and development of the further education (FE) service, and ensure that public money is routed to FE colleges and providers following the purchasing decisions of customers. The Skills Funding Agency will also be involved in the operation and management of the National Apprenticeship Service, the adult advancement and careers service, and the Offenders Learning and Skills Service.

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Law-Making Explained

This is a Command Paper (Cm. 7348, 2007-08). It is a joint paper from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

Find out more about Command Papers.

How does it affect me?

If you are aged 19 or over and looking to develop a particular skill, or if you have children who may be affected by these proposals, this may be of interest to you.