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News and information
News
AoC Revision of model employment contracts for colleges
These contracts can be found on the Employment pages of the AoC website, under the Resources section |
DCSF 16-18 and post-19 funding transfer bulletins
In the first week of each month DCSF will be issuing a bulletin aimed at those affected, involved or interested in the progress of the 16-18 and post-19 funding reforms. The bulletin will include implementation and success stories from regions and groupings.
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk |
DIUS Accounts for 2007/08
The accounts make a number of points: DIUS is the sponsoring department for the LSC -although the two departments co-sign the grant letter to the LSC, 16-18 funding from the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) is routed via DIUS; DIUS spent £284 million less on its grant to the LSC in 2007-8 than was in its estimate reported to Parliament (£11,168m. compared to £11,452m.),the difference is clearly explained by the Train to Gain underspend; DIUS spent £128m. more on higher education support for students in 2007-8 than was in its estimate; DIUS received £112 million less from DCSF to cover LSC costs in 2007-8 than was in its estimate (£7,053m. compared to £7,165m.). Available on DIUS website. |
Machinery of Government reforms
a) DIUS and DCSF have published two documents:
“Raising Expectations: Enabling the System to Deliver Summary of the Events and Written Responses” sets out all the key issues, opportunities and challenges raised by the written consultation responses and by delegates who attended the 9 regional events held in May.
“Raising Expectations: Enabling the System to Deliver Update and next steps” answers some of the questions that were raised throughout the consultation process and provides more information on points of design and principle where we are able to do so. These documents can be found at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk
b) After consideration of the options for the location of the new agencies, which included an assessment of value for money, ministers have decided that the national offices of both the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People's Learning Agency will be based in Coventry. |
FE colleges - models for success
This is a new framework document which sets out how FE can forge new partnerships to make a stronger contribution to the economic and social health of local communities. It provides the framework within which the sector will work to develop or enhance business and partnership models and is aimed at those working with and in the FE sector - including those with overall responsibility for the planning of further education delivery, the LSC and local authorities, as well as college governors, principals and management teams. The document has been developed in conjunction with the sector, and in collaboration with DCSF and can be found here www.dius.gov.uk/policy/furthereducation - then follow the link under "Governance and Legal". |
Apprenticeships
The Apprenticeships draft Bill sets out the legislation required to take forward the Government’s plans for the expansion and strengthening of the Apprenticeship Programme. Following pre-legislative scrutiny and consultation, these provisions will be included in the 4th Session Education and Skills Bill. The twelve week public consultation runs until 8 October. Work is already underway to deliver the aspirations behind the Bill. During November 2008, the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service will be operational in all LSC regions and a major marketing and communications campaign to employers, learners, parents, schools and colleges is being planned. In addition John Denham has announced chnages that are designed to make it easier for employers to take on more apprentices, such as demands to store paperwork for up to six years, multiple inspection visits and monthly reporting requirements will be ditched at the earliest possible opportunity. Registration and certification processes will be simplified, including faster confirmation that apprentices have successfully completed their programmes. Employers will no longer have to wait several months for a paper certificate to arrive. Payment systems will be streamlined, for example by enabling payments to be made in two lump sums rather than on a monthly basis if employer requests this.
Click here for further information. |
CompeteFor
Co-funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), CompeteFor acts as a brokerage service between buyers and potential suppliers, with the aim of opening up the London 2012 supply chain. Businesses can sign-up to CompeteFor by visiting www.competefor.co.uk |
LSC Accounts for 2007/08
The accounts are available here and contain some interesting information, e.g. LSC programme expenditure increased by 5% from financial year 2006/07 to 2007/08 but the shift on funding towards Train to Gain meant that spending on further education participation increased by only 0.7%; for the second year in a row, there was a substantial underspend on Train to Gain; ESF income for the LSC was £292 million, there were fears that ESF would end in 2007, in fact the programme has doubled in size; the LSC Chief Executive reports that he has commissioned an independent review into the collapse of Carter & Carter and also mentions a major investigation into an irregularity which is expected to go to court in 2008/09. |
Skills Accounts
The LSC are trialling these new accounts for learners which offer tailored advice on course choices and a skills voucher that can be used by learners to pay for their chosen course. Only LSC approved providers will be able to access funding There will be two clusters for trialling: a universal offer aimed at adults to start in September 2008 in the East Midlands and the South East and a Jobcentre Plus trial in the autumn, aimed at Jobcentre Plus clients only, within the Integrated Employment and Skills (IES) trials. An online Skills Account portal is due to go live in November. There will also be a helpline available to offer further information and support. A national roll-out of Skills Account is planned from 2010/11. |
QCA Diploma
The QCA has introduced some new pages on the Diploma
Visit the new Diploma pages |
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Consultations
Consultation on the new ‘University Challenge’ – closes 17 October
HEFCE is leading a consultation to identify ways communities can bid for funds for a higher education (HE) centre or university campus. The consultation follows the publication of 'A new "University Challenge"' by the DIUS earlier this year. The document sets out the Government's plans to open up towns and cities to bid for new opportunities for higher education.
View the consultation on the new 'University Challenge' (HEFCE 27/2008). |
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Articles and publications
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