The Learning and Skills Council Prospectus
14 December 1999
This briefing note summarises and offers initial commentary on the Government’s Prospectus for the Learning and Skills Council, to be established by the Learning and Skills Bill, published on 17 December 1999. It focuses on issues of particular interest to local government.
Copies of the Prospectus can be ordered from DfEE Publications on 0845 222 60 and is available on the DfEE website (www.dfee.gov.uk).
Introduction
This Prospectus sets out in detail how the Government proposes to implement the post 16 education and training white paper, Learning to Succeed, published in June 1999. A new Learning and Skills Council responsible for planning and funding all post-16 education and training was the centre-piece of the white paper. Consultation documents were issued at the same time on a new Small Business Service (SBS), the funding of school sixth forms and a new, national Youth Support Service.
Copies of LGA briefing papers on these documents are available on the LGA website (www.lga.gov.uk)
The Prospectus takes into account the views expressed during the consultation period and sets out how the government intends to work with relevant partners to set up the new LSC.
Further documents will be published in the New Year on:
| the financial and planning framework; |
| the Youth Support Service. |
Chapter 2: The Learning and Skills Council – what will it do and how will it work?
| Key proposal | LGA initial view | ||||
| The LSC (page 9-12) There will be a national LSC with two statutory committees (adult learning and young people) and 47 local LSCs. The national LSC and local LSCs will be part of a single organisation at arms-length from ministers, but accountable to them. |
The LGA’s response to Learning to Succeed proposed an alternative model for post 16, based on local partnerships. Given the government’s determination to introduce the new arrangements, however, local authorities will be equally committed to making the system work. It cannot do so without them. |
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| The national LSC (p12-15) Will work with key partners to assess and identify current and future skills and learning needs, building on the work of the National Skills Task Force. Will form national partnerships with key bodies e.g. SBS, RDAs and the NTO National Council - the latter to identify current and future learning and skills needs of sectors and to inform the production of sector-based workforce development plans. The majority of its annual budget will be delegated to local LSCs for them to spend, within a national framework – estimated at £100m for each local LSC. It will develop a 3 year corporate plan in consultation with key stakeholders. The plan will provide the national framework for similar local strategic plans. The LSC will be headed by an externally appointed chair and chief executive. |
LGA supports the national information collection and dissemination role for the LSC. The emphasis on the importance of partnership working is welcome. The new framework will not operate effectively without the involvement of key local stakeholders. LGA supports the list of key bodies - especially the inclusion of the SBS which was not mentioned in this context in the White Paper.
The LGA will expect local authorities to be consulted closely on the national plan. |
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| Local LSCs (p15-19) Will be responsible for ensuring that the needs of local communities are met through LSC-funded provision. Will identify the current and future learning and skills priorities for individuals, businesses and communities by e.g.:
Draw up local workforce development strategies which will complement the direction of wider economic development strategies Local strategies will be integrated into economic development and regeneration activities by consulting and developing close links with local authorities, RDAs, Local Learning Partnerships and others. |
The LGA’s view is that the 47 local LSCs are too remote to discern local needs and wishes without close local authority involvement. We support this role with the proviso that it must be carried out in conjunction with the RDA, local SBS and the local authority in order to integrate with the wider economic development strategy for the area LGA has argued that the SBS should offer tailored business development plans combining enterprise support and workforce development strategies. The need to link to wider economic development is strongly supported. Close consultation between LSCs and local authorities and RDAs will be crucial. |
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| Membership (p20-22) 40% of members of the national and local LSCs will have business experience. The government also expects local communities to be represented through those with local authority experience. Partners and representative organisations are invited to recommend individuals for places on the LSCs. |
The LGA welcomes the recognition that local authority figures – speaking for their communities – should have seats on the LSCs. We will want to ensure that the proportion of seats is adequate. The LGA will want to explore this invitation with government further. We have strongly opposed a top-down appointment process. |
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| Local authorities and RDAs (p22-23) Local authorities will be central partners in the new arrangements – not just as providers but as organisations uniquely placed to provide vision and leadership for communities. Local authorities will have a greater strategic influence over the whole of post 16 learning in their areas. They will be able to ensure learning is fully integrated into local economic, social and regeneration strategies, the development of community capacity and the renewal of civic engagement. Local LSCs will be required to consult local authorities on their plans and set out the LEA contribution. RDAs need to work very closely with the LSC to ensure that at a national and local level their regional skills strategies inform, complement and integrate with LSC’s plans and strategies. This is means in practice that statements of priority and plans from LSCs need to have the support of RDAs before they are formally approved. Conversely, RDAs need to take account of information and plans produced by LSCs at national and local level. |
The recognition of the importance of local government to the success of the new arrangements is welcome.
The LGA’s lobbing in response to the white paper has focused on the potential for the LSC framework to undermine local government’s developing community leadership role. The LGA will want the bill to secure a firm link between the community planning provisions of the Local Government Bill 2000 and the planning responsibilities of the LSC.
The recognised need to take an integrated approach is at regional level welcomed. Local authorities (or their representatives) should be consulted on the national guidance as well as RDAs. |
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| Local Learning Partnerships (p23-25) LLPs will continue to be voluntary groupings with a local focus. Key roles will be to ensure provider collaboration; advise local LSCs on local needs; provide way for learners to offer feedback. Will have a key role in relation to the new Youth Support Service at local level. LSCs will need to broaden membership to engage employers, voluntary sector, trade unions and others. Maybe by using sub-groups to focus on key issues or areas. DfEE will contribute £10m to LLPs in each of the next two years to help them fulfil their responsibilities. |
LGA will continue to press for strong role for LLPs in the new arrangements.
We will want to explore this suggestion further. LGA has pushed for a partnership approach to youth support. LGA plans to write to LLPs shortly recommending that partnerships consult local partners on future roles and boundaries. The Prospectus appears to suggest that LLPs will have two years to demonstrate their value in the new framework. LGA will work with LLPs to help them do so. |
Chapter 3: The planning and funding framework
| Key proposal | LGA initial view |
| Funding and allocations Further consultation document to be published shortly. |
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| School sixth forms (p26-27) LEAs will receive funding for school sixth forms through the LSC, rather than through local government finance. ‘LSCs’ involvement will ensure a coherent approach to provision’. Changes in funding arrangements not expected before 2002-03. Schools will be safeguarded so that sixth form budgets will not reduce in real terms, so long as numbers are maintained. There will be further consultation on implementation in the Spring. |
LGA will continue to resist the transfer of sixth form funding out of local government finance. There is concern in local government that the removal of sixth form funding from LEAs will be a barrier to community leadership and will impede their ability to provide the key co-ordinating role in post-16 education. |
| National rates and local discretion (p27-28) The majority of funds will be allocated in line with a national funding formula. But local LSCs will be able to vary the rate locally if necessary (in accordance with national guidelines). Local LSCs will also have flexible budgets to meet needs for adult and community learning; NVQs, workforce development; local projects; marketing; information and advice etc. These budgets will amount to 10-15% of overall LSC funding. |
In its response to the white paper, the LGA argued for maximum flexibility for local LSCs. National prescription will not deliver the necessary autonomy and discretion that is needed at local level. It is critical that LSCs are able to adapt national funding in a way which fits with local community planning and regeneration strategies (such as New Commitment to Regeneration). |
| Funding to combat disadvantage (p29) The funding system will need to make allowance for the higher costs of recruiting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. |
The new arrangements will need to build on the strengths of LEAs work with children with Special Educational Needs – particularly given the proposed new duties for LEAs in the forthcoming SEN Bill. |
Chapter 4: How will LSCs meet needs of individuals, businesses and communities?
| Key proposal | LGA initial view | ||||||||||||||||||
| Equality of opportunity (p31-33) LSC will draw up an equal opportunities strategy including performance indicators to tackle under-achievement in post 16 learning and under-representation on its boards and among its staff. |
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| 16-19 provision (p33-35) The local LSCs will consult all local interests in drawing up a statement of priorities for 16-19 provision. LEAs will consider these priorities in drawing up School Organisation Plans, as will SOCs and adjudicators. Emphasis is on collaboration. Local LSCs will have broad funding powers, allowing them, in certain circumstances, to fund 14-16 year olds in collaboration with FE colleges, LEAs and schools. The LSC will work closely with the new Youth Support Service to ensure provision matches needs and young people have access to information. The Bill will lift the legal bar on the creation of LEA maintained sixth form centres. The LSC will also be able to propose new LSC-maintained FE colleges. |
LGA welcomes emphasis on collaboration. It is important that plans are determined jointly, rather than LSC plans being seen as more important than those of LEAs.
The LGA lobbied for this new freedom in response to the white paper. It is disappointing, however, that it is accompanied by the removal of RSG for school sixth forms from local government finance. Local authorities may well be unwilling to promote new forms of provision when the means of funding it will be out of their control. |
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| Workforce development (p35-39) LSC will work nationally with employer representatives to articulate a clear agenda - including NTOs, SBS , etc. Local LSCs to develop integrated local workforce development plans - taking into account the national framework, regional priorities articulated through the RDA skills and economic strategies, and the local dimension outlined in the plans of the LLPs. The LSCs will:
NTOs and the LSC DfEE is currently working with selected NTOs to produce a framework for sector workforce development plans. During 2001, all NTOs will be asked to produce such plans. NTOs should encourage suitable employers to apply for LSC member positions. In addition, those business members who are on LSCs will be expected to develop effective links with an appropriate NTO Delivering workforce development programmes and services LSC will determine how workforce development services should be provided and will manage funds for such purposes. Majority of LSC workforce development budget will be delegated to the local LSCs following approval of their workforce development plans.
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This is supported.
LGA supports the inclusion of the regional and national dimension. In terms of small business LGA argues that local LSCs and SBS franchises should prepare joint workforce development/enterprise support plans.
While the detailed functions for the LSCs as set out in the prospectus are supported, it remains unclear precisely how the local LSCs will succeed in encouraging small firms to invest in training.
Support the view that local LSCs should be sufficiently resourced to respond to local needs.
Supported
LGA supports the key role set out for the SBS |
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| Adult learning (p39-41) Widening access to adult learning will be a key aim. Local authorities already provide learning opportunities to 2-3 million people. The new arrangements will give local authorities a strategic influence over all post 16 learning. LEAs will be responsible for submitting strategic plans to demonstrate how they will contribute to securing adult and community learning for their area. Provided LEAs implement their plans effectively and maintain their current level of spend, LEAs will receive funding for the first two years of the LSC’s operation comparable with their current spending. DfEE will write to LEAs shortly to clarify this. |
The recognition of local authorities’ significant contribution in this area is welcome. Adult and community education are closely linked into many local authorities’ regeneration and social inclusion strategies. LGA will want to discuss this further with DfEE. A continuing strategic role for local government in the planning of adult and community education is a key objective for the LGA. We will want to ensure that this role is not simply a stop-gap measure until the LSCs are up and running. |
Chapter 5: How will the LSC and the new inspection arrangements improve quality and effectiveness?
| LSC quality improvement (p43-45) The LSC will develop quality criteria for providers. Providers will be required to assess themselves against those criteria. Over time the LSC will fund only those providers which meet the criteria. |
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| The new inspection regime (p45-60) Responsibility for inspecting provision for 16-19 year olds in schools and colleges will rest with Ofsted. For adult provision in colleges and workbased learning there will be a new Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI). The two regimes will use a common framework, to be published after full consultation. There will also be area-based inspections, usually covering a single LEA. The reports will lead to action plans involving both the LEA and the LSC. The national LSC will have reserve powers to propose the closure of failing school sixth forms. |
There needs to be a commitment that the new inspection regime will be practicable. Institutions should be faced with single inspection teams in order to minimise the burden.
If LEAs are to be subject to the same inspection regime as LSCs, LEAs must have a sufficiently strong strategic role across all post 16 provision to enable them to make a difference to the standards in their area. The LGA will want to examine this proposed power extremely closely. |
Chapter 6: What happens next?
| Posts of the chair, members and senior officers of the national LSC will be advertised and filled between February 2000 and July 2000. |
| The government will bring together small task groups of local partners, under the guidance of GOs, to develop transitional arrangements for the 47 local LSCs. A national transition plan will be published in March 2000. |
| Local LSC chairs will be announced in June 2000 and board members in September. |
| Those interested in applying should email lsc.appointments@dfee.gov.uk or write to LSC Appointments, LSC set up team, Learning and Skills Council Division, Moorfoot, Sheffield, S1 4PQ. |
Further information
Comments on the Prospectus should be sent to Mike Morley, DfEE, W3a, Moorfoof, Sheffield, S1 4PQ
For further information on the LGA’s view on the government’s proposals please contact Neil Fletcher (0207 664 3303) or Daniel Burke (0207 664 3327)