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Education: Skills

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State (Ruth Kelly) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. I have today laid before the House a White Paper Further Education: Raising Skills—Improving Life Chances, which sets out the Government's plans for the reform of further education. There is much to be proud of in our further education system. We have many excellent colleges and training providers. Participation in education and training has risen significantly since 1997. Success rates are rising. Our 14–19 and skills strategies have set the country on the road towards a coherent, accessible, high-quality system of lifelong learning which meets the needs both of employers and of individuals. But we cannot stand still. Major challenges remain if we are to ensure a high-level skills base which matches and exceeds that of other high-performing economies. The FE sector is central to delivering the skills that are essential for economic success and which give individuals of all backgrounds and aspirations the basis for productive, sustainable employment and prosperity. The White Paper sets out a comprehensive programme of change, which will transform our FE system into a powerhouse of economic prosperity and social mobility. In developing our proposals, we have listened to the sector and the needs of its users, through Sir Andrew Foster's excellent review of the role of colleges and through widespread consultation with employers, providers and other key stakeholders. We have accepted, and are building on, the vast majority of Sir Andrew's recommendations. Our plans will ensure:"A new economic mission for FE: the heart of the sector's role should be equipping young people and adults with the skills for employability that underpin both economic success and social mobility.""World-class specialised vocational learning, driven by the needs of employers, including the strengthening of centres of vocational excellence and the development of vocational sector networks.""Responsiveness to employers and learners: giving them greater say in the provision of education and training, more choices, and the tools to make the most of these opportunities. That includes expansion of work-based training to meet employer needs and trialling a new accounts programme for adults.""New entitlements: introducing a new entitlement to free tuition and support to help 19 to 25 year-olds gain technician, associate professional and skilled trades qualifications at level 3. Over time and as resources allow we intend to extend this entitlement so that it can include programmes within the foundation learning tier that support progression through to level 2 and beyond.""New freedoms for high-performing colleges, coupled with tougher, faster intervention to combat poor performance. Quality will be improved through new styles of delivery, including federations, collaborative partnerships and trusts. There will be a new quality-improvement strategy offering an integrated approach to quality development and improvement across the sector.""Reduced bureaucracy and less regulation, and a new relationship with colleges which releases their energy, initiative and dynamism, while ensuring that they are accountable for their performance.""Opportunities both for new high-quality providers to enter the system, and for existing providers with a strong track record to expand.""A funding system which is driven by the choices and needs of learners and employers. Within local authorities' strategic leadership role for children's services overall, local authorities and the LSC will work closely together to drive progress through a shared strategy for delivering the 14–19 entitlement in every area.""A fairer playing field for capital funding available to schools and colleges, and a capital strategy that delivers the 14–19 reforms and supports the plans set out in the White Paper." New investment announced in this White Paper and by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer last week will target the Government's priorities for FE including:"£25 million from 2007–08 to fund a 19–25 entitlement to first full level 3.""£11 million from 2007–08 to allow the full national rollout of the adult learning grant to be brought forward to 2007–08.""£11 million from 2007–08 for new programmes to recruit and train excellent staff for the FE sector.""£20 million to address the skills and training obstacles faced by women, as identified by the Women and Work Commission. That will extend support for women in training at level 3, expand the availability of skills coaches to support women in entering employment, and develop new recruitment routes into industries where women are underrepresented." These reforms will build a further education system fit to meet the challenges of economic and social change, and to achieve its full potential as the powerhouse of a productive, competitive economy and a just, inclusive society.