The Raising Expectations White Paper sets out proposals for improving the delivery of education and training for young people and adults. It builds on the reforms of Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances and World Class Skills: Implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in England.Government’s ambition is that every 16 and 17 year-old will participate in education or training, and that every adult will have the chance to improve their skills.

The proposed changes mean that the Learning and Skills Council will be replaced by two smaller national organisations for 14-19 and post-19 education and training by 2010.

Proposals for young people include transferring commissioning and funding of education and training for all 16-18 year-olds to local authorities. This will make local authorities responsible for educating and training children and young people aged 0-19. It will involve:

• transferring £7 billion a year from the LSC to local authorities to help colleges and sixth forms deliver reforms to raise the education and training leaving age to 18
• making local authorities responsible for offering the full range of 14-19 entitlements, including the new Diplomas and Apprenticeships as well as GCSEs and A levels
• creating a Young People’s Learning Agency to carry out national level work.

Proposals for adults include creating a Skills Funding Agency to oversee the development and performance of the FE sector. The new agency:

• is expected to streamline the funding process to FE colleges and other training providers
• will manage a range of adult training and skills services such as the new National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the National Employer Service (NES)

Back