FE News takes a look at the LSC annual report for 2006/07

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The Learning Skills Council (LSC) has published its annual report and accounts for 2006/07 Better Skills, Better Jobs, Better Lives. It details the developments and achievements of the past year for the Government funded organisation, and sets outs its priorities for the coming twelve months

The LSC’s achievements include meeting and exceeding the target for the number of working adults who have a Level 2 qualification. Now some 74% (17.5 million) of adults who work have achieved a Level 2 qualification. That is over a million more than in 2002. In addition 1.75 million adults have improved their basic skills, against an LSC target of 1.5 million by 2007

The number of young people completing their Apprenticeship has increased to 59%, from just 24% in 2001. However, the amount being spent by the LSC on apprenticeships and E2E decreased from £1,044 million the previous year to £991 million in 2006/07. This decrease may be attributable to the early meeting of targets. By the end of 2005/06 the LSC had helped 98,700 people achieve an Apprenticeship. This went beyond their target of 75,500 people achieving Apprenticeships in 2007/08.

The increase in 16 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) from 10% to 11% last year is acknowledged in the report. The LSC says amongst its strategies to encourage these young people to go to classes is the Education Maintenance Allowance for 16 ““ 19 year olds, and the “Care to Learn” programme for young parents.

With regards to adult learning, the LSC has said that as training becomes more expensive they will reduce the number of short, non-priority learning opportunities that are funded although they have pledged to keep £210 million a year for personal and social learning such as evening classes.

The LSC report sets out plans for Train to Gain which has now been in operation nationwide for a year. Since it was set up in August 2006 some 44,000 employers have taken part. Starting this summer, employers will be able to assess the quality of training available to them from training providers. The LSC will then grade all providers accordingly. In 2006/07 the LSC introduced minimum levels of performance for training providers and from net year they will not fund courses, sectors or training providers that have not improved enough.