Political and educational issues for colleges Gill Clipson, Deputy Chief Executive 17 May 2016

What I’ll cover Outline National politics (including tomorrow’s Queen’s speech Some teaching and learning issues Technical education Devolution

Teaching and learning

A recap on UK politics The May 2015 election A Conservative government Thin majority (12 seats), fixed term (5 years) Big focus on implementing the manifesto Big promises (“lower immigration” “3 million apprentices”) Where are we now EU referendum overshadows government work Domestic policy implementation via 2015 spending review and legislation (Queen’s speech 18 May 2016)

The 2015 spending review Post 16 education and skills National base rate for fixed for four years Sixth form college academy conversion option Adult education budget fixed in cash terms for four years Apprenticeship levy 0.5% on payrolls over £3 mil FE loans extended to 19 to 23-year-olds Assessment Better than many expected (£27 billion “found down sofa”) Effective AoC & College lobbying helped Government recognised role of colleges in its policy There will be no let-up in reforms

Legislation (the Queen’s Speech) An education bill More academies (in areas where results are lower) National school funding formula More limited role for local authorities Clearer routes for young people (the Sainsbury report) A higher education bill A new Office for Students (in place of HEFCE) A swifter process for creating new universities An overhaul of HE regulation (this will affect college HE) An extremism bill

Teaching and learning

Ofsted Some challenging inspections in cycle Ofsted very focused on English and Maths success Performance reporting Major overhaul of performance tables in spring 2017 New measures will be used by inspectors and in intervention Qualification reform New A-levels, new GCSEs (first set of results in 2017) New apprenticeship standards New technical qualifications in wake of Sainsbury report

Technical Education

Productivity Plan (July, 2015):  The UK has a long-term productivity problem  We have a productivity gap of around 30 per cent with countries such as France, Germany and the USA  Throughout the globe nations are investing in high quality technical and professional skills, and reaping the reward through higher productivity and living standards The case for reform We need to address: Complexity and low status of the current skills system Weaknesses in the skills base and the lack of higher-level skills Insufficient engagement from employers Apprenticeships being too separate from the wider TPE system

and/or GCSE English & Mathematics + GCSEs in core subjects Optional subjects At least three of: and/or Other GCSE subjects Technical Awards + Other qualifications for students with particular needs that do not count in performance tables. e.g. Entry level certificates + A Levels Technical Certificates: Currently 2 technical certificates available in healthcare support Technical Levels (‘Tech Levels’): Currently 2 tech levels in Clinical Healthcare Support Clinical Healthcare Support Workers/ Assistants, including those working in specialist areas Clinical Healthcare Support Workers/Healthcare Assistants with delegated responsibility. Sometimes in a supervisory role. Assistant Practitioners in Healthcare Advanced Apprenticeship in Health (Clinical Healthcare Support) Qualified practitioner (e.g. Nurse, Allied Health Practitioner, Healthcare Scientist) Higher National Diploma (L5) for Assistant practitioners in healthcare Undergraduate degree to allow you to register as a professional 14 to to 18/19 18/19+ Employment TECHNICAL Traineeship Administrative/Assistant roles WORK-BASED ACADEMIC Intermediate Apprenticeship in Health (Clinical Healthcare Support) The current (complex) routes for young people

The Sainsbury report The big picture technical/professional routes from school to work Employer ownership because they specify what is needed Two main routes: academic & technical (incl apprenticeships) The likely detail Replace qualifications with new programmes More emphasis on work experience Involves a stronger classroom (college) route to work Implementation over several years

TE: what could it look like? Undergraduate Degree A Levels Applied General Higher Apprenticeships ApprenticeshipsClassroom Based Technical Transition Programme if required GCSEs Academic HNDBridging Foundation Degree Professional Accreditation Employment Transition Programme if required GCSEs

Devolution

Devolution – where have we come from? Devolution promises past and present Coalition promised more power for local government LEPs opened for business; DCLG invited City Deal bids Heseltine report recommended more powers for LEPs Single Local Growth Fund created (including skills capital) “The Northern Powerhouse”; Manchester devolution deal 2015 – Every part of the country invited to apply for a deal education and apprenticeships currently out of scope Adult skills scheduled for “full devolution”

Skills devolution (D-day 2018) Deals with skills (the AEB) in green Greater Manchester, Tees Valley, Sheffield City Region, North East, Liverpool CR, West Midlands West of England, East Anglia Greater Lincolnshire Deals in pipeline in yellow London, West Yorkshire Cornwall, Devon/Somerset Cumbria, North Midlands (D2N2) Solent, Hampshire, 3 counties

The adult education budget Influence mix and balance of provision “in return for block grant” Influence mix and balance of provision 2016/ /19 Influence mix and balance of provision Funding and accountability devolved Vary the block grant allocations made to providers, within agreed framework Areas with devolution deals Areas without a deal 2017/18

Conclusions Area reviews and apprenticeships are incredibly important but don’t forget everything else The government has provided some (very modest) funding stability but it is impatient for reform across the entire education system (in schools, colleges and universities) The Sainsbury report is designed to introduce a major overhaul of 16+ technical education Devolution will introduce a new set of commissioners – and regulators