A moment of inflection: the future of Further Education

July 2011

Reform of the FE sector is a major strand of the Government skills strategy, published in November last year. The strategy envisages a sector with both greater freedoms and greater responsibilities. The changes will see the sector taking more responsibility for its performance, as well as playing a greater role in collaborating to ensure skills provision matches economic development priorities. Colleges will also face greater competition for learners from groups such as employer organisations and independent training providers.

This seminar, held by the National Skills Forum and Associate Parliamentary Skills Group in partnership with LSIS, and chaired by Nic Dakin MP, himself a former FE principal, sought to explore the impact of these reforms changes on learners, further education colleges and communities.

Speakers at the seminar included:

• Rob Wye, Chief Executive, Learning and Skills Improvement Service
• Neil Sherlock, Public Affairs Partner, KPMG; Advisor to Nick Clegg MP
• Professor Ken Spours, Co-Director of the Centre for Post-14 Research and Innovation, Institute for Education

A seminar report, which we are publishing today, provides an account of discussion at the seminar, which was attended by parliamentarians, academics and business representatives.

The report considers the following issues:

• the new policy landscape in which the FE sector is operating
• the devolution of freedoms to the sector
• ensuring regulatory and funding systems support dynamic delivery of provision

Read the seminar report