The Government has confirmed that by 2010, it will dissolve the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), one of the biggest quangos established by New Labour. To replace the LSC, local authorities will be allocated £7bn to help colleges and sixth forms deliver planned reforms, and the school leaving age will be raised to 18.
Local authorities will now be chiefly responsible for offering all youngsters a full range of choices, including diplomas and apprentices as well as A Levels and GCSEs. According to the Government, the local authorities will work alongside national agencies and the Regional Development Agency to provide a coherent planning and funding system for further education colleges and providers.
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said local authorities are in the best position to respond to the needs of young, local people, and that by giving them responsibility for the funding, they could ensure full choice is offered. He said: “Local authorities are already responsible for schools. They are taking responsibility for advising young people and are being given new duties to ensure the right range of provision is in place for young people to continue in education and training until 19.”
With £4bn funding, the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), a new agency providing training and skills for adults, will also be established. The Government said this smaller agency will replace the LSC to streamline the funding process to colleges and training providers.
The SFA will manage the creation and management of the new England-wide adult advancement and careers service, which the Government claims will play a key role in boosting individual demand for skills and guiding people to the most appropriate training. It will also take over the National Apprenticeship Scheme, with end-to-end responsibility for the apprenticeships programme.
John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation Universities and Skills, said: “We want every adult to have the opportunity to improve their skills to get a job or progress in work, and to help them realise their aspirations and talents. The SFA will ensure that Government funding responds to employers’ and adults’ skills needs.”
The LSC has had something of a chequered history. In 2004, 800 jobs were cut from the organisation and its regional offshoots, with a further 1,200 redundancies the following year in an attempt to become less bureaucratic and provide better value for money.
By 2006, when plans for another 1,100 job cuts were announced, staff at the LSC went on a day-long strike, with the Public and Commercial Services Union claiming staff were faced with day-long IQ and assessment tests to determine who would keep their jobs.
Mark Haysom, the chief executive of the LSC, said: “This two-year period allows us to continue to build on what we have achieved so far. I want us to leave an outstanding legacy of achievement.”n
