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Skills for Life

Answer

The Adult Learning Inspectorate Chief Inspector's report published on 7 December highlighted the need to improve the quality of adult basic skills provision. The Department is already tackling the issues raised through a coherent Quality Initiative which includes teaching training, workforce development and initiatives which will increase the quality of teaching and learning. This will form part of the Quality Improvement Strategy lead by the Quality Improvement Agency. Recent ALI and Ofsted reports have highlighted improvements in quality, eg improved diagnostic assessment and better use of teaching and learning materials. The number of unsatisfactory or weak inspections in further education colleges has halved in the last year. Two colleges have now been awarded beacon status for Skills for Life.Since the launch of the strategy in 2001, 3.7 million learners have taken up 7.8 million learning opportunities, and 1,130,000 of these learners went on to achieve at least one first literacy, language or numeracy qualification. We are on track to meet our PSA target to help 2.25 million learners achieve qualifications by 2010.A report by the National Audit Office, published December 2004, reported that"““The Department has led the development of lasting improvements in literacy, language and numeracy learning. There are more ways for people to improve their skills and the Department has raised awareness by advertising and working with other Government Departments to reach their clients””."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

36731; 440 c2742-3W

Session

2005-06

Related items

Population Projections
Monday, 13 February 2006
Written questions
House of Commons

Subjects

Adult education Further education Inspections Standards Adult Learning Inspectorate

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk