LSC Launches Change Programme in Further Education

Today, the Learning and Skills Council launched a major programme for the transformation of the further education sector entitled LSC Agenda For Change.

Today, the Learning and Skills Council launched a major programme for the transformation of the further education sector entitled LSC Agenda For Change.

The LSC agenda for change focuses on five key themes that emerged from the regional roadshows the LSC held with college principals during the summer to discuss urgent issues facing further education.

The new agenda is fundamental to the LSC’s commitment to engage fully with the sector and work in partnership with colleges and training providers in a spirit of openness and transparency.

The five themes are:

· Skills/employers – how to help colleges best meet the needs of employers and the economy

· Quality – how best to build a sector fully committed to quality and delivery to the highest standards throughout

· Funding – a radical overhaul of the LSC’s methodology, to ensure the most is made of available funds to support the sector’s priorities with the minimum of complexity and bureaucracy

· Efficiency – driving up the efficiency of the sector, individually and collectively, including investing in improvements

· Data – radically revised and simplified systems, which deliver the data and management information the sector needs

Each theme has a dedicated lead person appointed from the LSC’s national Management Group. They will set up task groups for each theme, involving many representatives from the further education sector, to agree a way forward to address these key issues.

LSC Chief Executive, Mark Haysom said: “We learned from the roadshows that there are significant strengths in the sector, but also major issues to tackle. We all have to prepare for the combined demands that the 14-19 strategy, the Skills Strategy and the Success For All strategy present for the future.

“The themes that collectively comprise the LSC agenda for change will, allow the sector to respond to the transformation agenda we all need to pursue, to meet the needs of local learners, employers, the economy and the communities we serve.

“I have reported on these themes to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and Ministers and there is agreement that the LSC should take the leadership role in driving them forward with urgency and with the full engagement of the further education sector.”

The LSC will also work with principals to raise awareness of the vital role of colleges in delivering education, training and skills for the 21st century.