governance good practice guide

Machinery of Government Changes (2008)

'Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver'

The Government Green Paper, 'Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver', is a joint consultation between the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), setting out proposals for the funding and organisation of 6th form colleges and FE colleges in 2010.

The proposals foresee the dissolution of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) by 2010 and the creation of two new agencies for funding:

1. Young People’s Learning Agency for 14 – 19 funding
2. Skills Funding Agency for 19+ funding.

The Young People's Learning Agency will be an organisation with an independent board; the Skills Funding Agency will be an agency that forms part of its host government department, DIUS.

In further changes, legislation will be introduced to designate 6th form colleges as a separate category of college, based mainly on whether they focus on full-time 16 – 19 education. They will be funded, regulated and performance managed by their home local authority. The legal transfer will take place by 1 April 2010, but transfer in practice will take effect by 1 September 2009.

Young People’s Learning Agency
Under the proposals this body will have both a planning and funding role, and:

• have powers to launch more significant reorganisations of 16 – 18 provision
• have responsibility for provision for Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities (LLDD)
• commission provision for young offenders in custodial institutions
• work to create common funding arrangements for 16 – 18 learners in both schools and colleges
• work to introduce a common performance management framework across the 16 – 18 system.

Funding will be distributed from the Agency to local authorities for local decision-making.

Local authorities will be encouraged to work in sub-regional partnerships and in partnership with FE institutions for 16 – 19 provision in colleges.

Skills Funding Agency
Focused on 19+ learning, this body will:

• manage the National Employer’s Service
• work with a new National Apprenticeships Service
• work with a new England-wide Adult Advancement and Careers Service
• be responsible for performance management in FE colleges
• be the point of intervention in ensuring minimum standards and levels of performance.

The majority of funding received by colleges will flow in direct response to customer choices through the Train to Gain initiative.

The Skills Funding Agency will be a funding body, not a funding and planning body.

For further information see:

• DCSF website
• CEL slides.