Ways of working together better
The Welsh Assembly Government has an agenda to transform post-16 education in Wales. Collaboration – rationalising provision and sharing facilities – is at the heart of the change, but the acid test will be whether students, communities and businesses see the benefit, writes JOHN GRAYSTONE
P
olicies on post-16 education in Wales used to be broadly similar to those in England. But things have moved on. In the 10 years since devolution, the
education system in Wales has evolved to reflect the needs and challenges facing Wales. In Wales, there are no Machinery of Government changes. Colleges are directly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG). The Learning and Skills Council (its Welsh counterpart ELWa was abolished four years ago), the Young People’s Learning Agency, the Skills Funding Agency, the National Apprenticeship Service and the Learning and Skills Improvement Service are virtually unknown in Wales. And in spite of (or perhaps because of) the absence of quangos, the FE sector in Wales has done very well. Inspection grades are at an all-time high; student success rates are increasing; and colleges are seen as key drivers in raising skills levels. But, as every high jumper knows, the better colleges perform, the higher the bar is raised. Further education (FE) colleges in
Wales are undergoing significant change. This article outlines the Welsh Assembly Government’s agenda on the transformation of post-16 education in Wales, with its challenges and potentials. As of April 2010, there are 21 further education colleges and two FE institutions (WEA South and YMCA Community College) in Wales. All are active members of ColegauCymru (CollegesWales), the rep- resentative body for FE in Wales (until recently, known as fforwm). In 2008-09, FE student enrolments numbered 227,000; of which 82 per cent
14 ADULTS LEARNING APRIL 2010
studied part-time; 75 per cent were aged over 19. The numbers of adult learners has fallen as Welsh Assembly Government funding has prioritised 16-18 learners over recent years. In 2010-11, total core funding from the WAG will be around £306 million, with additional funding for work-based learning. Interestingly, in response to the recent cuts in adult learning, the WAG has ringfenced £16.5 million for ‘adult skills’ in the 2010-11 core funding. FE colleges are told this money is to fund post-19 (adults) to gain work- relevant Level 2 qualifications. No mention is made of how to move Wales’ huge basic skills needs forward through this fund.
Committed to reforms Since December 2009, the WAG has had a new First Minister and a new ministerial team is committed to taking forward reforms. Leighton Andrews is the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning. Significantly, Lesley Griffiths, the Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills, is part of the Department for the Economy and Transport headed up by the Deputy First Minister (who is also Minister for Economic Development).
In the face of the recession, the WAG has pioneered a number of imaginative initiatives. First, the ProAct scheme has provided financial support aimed at companies which are at risk of cutting jobs or moving to short-term working to tide them over. Funding is available to train employees to help maintain their employability. Second, the ReAct programme provides training support for those recently made redundant. Colleges have responded by putting forward
tailor-made vocational courses, delivered at short notice. Third, the Pathways to Apprenticeship
programme is a one-year fast-track college- based apprenticeship programme devised for people unable to secure a traditional apprenticeship with an employer because of the economic downturn. The challenge is now to secure them placements and move them on to employers so that they can complete their apprenticeships or progress to higher learning. The programme, initially funded for one year only, has been rolled forward for another year.
The post-16 sector faces major funding and structural challenges over the next few years. As the numbers of 16-18 year olds fall, the adult population increases. It is well known that rises in life expectancy place increased pressure on an overstretched National Health Service. But less well known is the impact on education as a steadily ageing population will demand and expect lifelong learning in vocational and leisure courses. Advances in technology will also have a huge impact on teaching and learning. Today, an adult can find information at the click of a mouse that only a decade ago would have taken days to research. Future financial settlements are likely to be
tough. WAG funding to colleges in 2010-11 has risen by 2.6 per cent, primarily as a result of the increased investment in adult skills identified above. But nine colleges have seen a reduction and all colleges are facing ‘efficiency gains’ of at least five per cent, which means they all need to deliver a lot more than 2.6 per cent to benefit from the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32