reviews of governance (2002 – 2006)
reviews of governance (2002 – 2006)Governance reviewsGovernance in further education has been through a period of constant review and change since 2002. Work commenced by the former Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has since 2007 been the responsibility of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Underpinning the reviews have been two Government department-sponsored reports by Sir Andrew Foster on behalf of the DfES in 2005 (the Foster review), and the report of Lord Sandy Leitch on behalf of the Treasury in 2006 (the Leitch report). Go to the section on the Foster review Go to the section on the Leitch report The FE Skills White Paper entitled 'Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances' published in March 2006, paved the way for the Further Education and Training Act 2007, and the further definition of governance in colleges with the Instrument and Articles of Government issued with effect from 1 January 2008. Quality improvement In parallel, FE colleges have been at the forefront of improving quality, raising standards and improving student success rates. Colleges have been supported in their efforts by both Her Majesty's Inspectorate – the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) – and the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA). The aim is a national, integrated approach to quality improvement, self-assessment and inspection across the FE system, while respecting the distinct roles and responsibilities of the various national agencies, and the core responsibility of colleges and other providers for their own quality improvement. The ultimate goal is self-regulation for the FE system. BackgroundThe Government, in its White Paper, 'Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances', sets out radical reforms to help further education and training organisations to realise their full potential in terms of the quality and effectiveness of the services they provide for learners, employers, communities and the economy. The drive to improve quality is at the heart of the White Paper reforms. All young people and adults in the further education system should have a high-quality learning experience. The Government established (April 2006) a national Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) to tackle these priorities. Its remit is to work with national partner agencies to streamline and support the continuous self-improvement of further education and training organisations. Its first task has been to consult with the further education system to develop a single, integrated Improvement Strategy that is shared by further education and training organisations and the key national agencies with responsibilities for quality assessment, assurance and improvement in the further education system. The QIA's role as the lead agency for quality improvement in the system is twofold. Second, it is responsible for developing and providing access to resources that help colleges and providers implement initiatives and improve quality. The QIA does this by:
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