FAB Supports VQ Day
Become a member...
If you would like to benefit from our membership...
Sign Up Now...
Federation of Awarding Bodies,
Registered address:
75 Westminster Bridge Road,
London,
SE1 7HS,
Registration number: 0435560
Consultation further details
The BIS consultation on 'Skills for Sustainable Growth' sets out a number of questions seeking responses to inform the strategy for skills that BIS will publish in the autumn after the Spending Review to set out a clear framework for further education, skills and lifelong learning policy for a five year government. So the detail is to follow!
The document does state 'up-front' that 'It is essential that there is a respected, credible vocational training offer that will provide people with a route into employment, help them progress in their careers or support them in starting their
own business.' which is pleasing.
Of the questions that are included in the document some key ones for us are:
- How can we further simplify the skills system, including the number, roles and responsibilities of the many organisations working in the system?
- Linked to apprenticeships and work based learning - How can we ensure that training leads to real gains in skills, knowledge and competence and not just the accreditation of existing skills?
- On choice for employers and learners - How can the learning market be made to work more efficiently, effectively and economically and to be more responsive and accountable to demand by individuals and employers while delivering value for money?
On employer demand (Sector Skills Councils ) and the Qualifications and Credit Framework there are 3 questions -
- We welcome views on how best to ensure employers are able to shape the skills system to meet their needs.
- We are interested in views on what more might be needed to make the system responsive to employer needs.
- Which qualifications have most value for employers and learners? Which do not have value? How do we evolve the Qualifications and Credit Framework so that it focuses on the former and removes the latter?
- The key aspect of freeing up colleges and training providers - How can we enable colleges and training organisations to be more efficient and responsive to the needs of employers, learners and their community but without adding new layers of control by local bodies?
- What mechanisms could we use to hold colleges and other training organisations to account for their performance in responding to employers’ needs and for prioritising training that adds real economic value?
- Maximum flexibility to meet customer need
- Minimise the processes associated with funding
- A single route for the flow of funds for adult provision
- Streamline funding to focus on delivery of quality outcomes
- Remove constraints that limit innovation
- Radically overhaul the complex performance management regime of inspection, quality assurance and performance measurement
Other sections cover Information Advice and Guidance (IAG), priority areas, leadership and management, adult and community learning and how to measure the success of any policies.
The linked proposals on funding are contained in the document ‘A Simplified Further Education and Skills Funding System and Methodology’.
The principles set out for the new approach to funding are interesting and in summary are: