The DfES strategy 'Success For All: Reforming Further Education and Training - Our Vision for the Future' was published in November 2002. A discussion document of the same name was published in June 2002, introducing a consultation phase with organisations and key stakeholders in the sector.

In 'Success For All', Charles Clarke, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, issues a challenge to the sector and to the Learning and Skills Council to provide greater choice for learners, to raise standards and to meet the skills needs of local employers. To facilitate these reforms, he pledges the largest ever investment by government in the sector, and outlines a new role for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

The four key principles underpinning the reforms are identified as:

  • expanding choice
  • promoting devolution and delegation to front line staff
  • providing flexibility and incentives for success
  • raising the profile of standards and accountability

In setting out the strategy for achieving these reforms, the document is divided into four elements which are summarised below:

  • Meeting needs, improving choice
  • Putting teaching, training and learning at the heart of what we do
  • Developing the leaders, teachers, lecturers, trainers and support staff of the future
  • Developing a framework for quality and success

Meeting needs, improving choice

To increase the responsiveness of the sector to skills needs and to improve breadth of choice for learners, local LSCs are required to lead Strategic Area Reviews to ensure that there is the right mix of provision in the locality, to identify gaps, and to encourage collaboration between providers, in this way ensuring that the sector is well placed to meet the proposed 14-19 education reforms. Capital investment is pledged for the upgrading of outdated buildings, for transforming facilities for ICT-supported learning and for ensuring that facilities comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Putting teaching and learning at the heart of what we do

The new Standards Unit in DfES will work with key partners, such as QCA, the Inspectorates, LSDA, the LSC, Ufi/learndirect and providers of initial teacher training to identify best practice in post 16 education. E-learning is identified as playing an increasingly important role in widening post 16 participation and in improving retention and achievement. Through the post 16 e-learning Joint Implementation Group, the Department will work towards a coordinated implementation plan for integrating e-learning into delivery. The group will take forward the recommendations of the e-learning Task Force and the LSC's Distributed and Electronic Learning Group (DELG).

To implement these proposals, there will be a need for more high quality e-learning content. The Curriculum Online concept could be extended to provide a post 16 model with an initial report on the feasibility of such a model available by spring 2003. The laptops for FE staff loan scheme will be modified to improve access by staff to ICT. Funding will be made available via the LSC's Intervention Fund to target staff development for support staff and technicians involved in e-learning, and subsequently staff in adult and community learning and specialist colleges.

A major programme in staff training will form the cornerstone of raising standards in teaching and learning. The new Standards Unit in the DfES, led by Jane Williams, former Principal of the City of Wolverhampton College, will mentor a network of co-ordinators and advanced practitioners to identify and disseminate best practice in delivery methods and the pedagogy underpinning e-learning. Priority curriculum areas have been identified for the investment of substantial resources. They are:

  • in 2003/4, construction, entry to employment (e2e), business studies and science
  • in 2004/5, health and social care, ICT, maths and land-based further education.

Developing the leaders, teachers, lecturers, trainers and support staff of the future

The strategy emphasises the need for staff development across the whole of the sector to ensure an appropriately qualified workforce. A national leadership college to serve the FE and HE sectors will be approved for 2003 and increasing the ethnic diversity of leaders and managers in the sector will become a requirement to be implemented and evaluated by 2004.

Money for staff training will be 'consolidated into core funding' allowing the Learning and Skills Council to reshape the remaining Standards Fund to invest where needed to deliver excellence and to correct weak provision. The majority of the former Standards Fund will be allocated to local LSCs in 2003 to provide support for local intervention activity and structural change. The LSC is to consult on proposals for how the new fund will operate, and will aim to 'ensure transparency to providers in the use of the fund'.

Developing a framework for quality and success

The Success For All strategy proposes a new framework for funding the sector. Colleges and other learning and skills providers will agree a 3 year funding agreement with the LSC built around goals of increasing customer focus, achieving consistently high quality teaching and learning and planning the skills development of staff, with incentives for higher performance. In return for agreeing a Development Plan every college will move to a higher funding rate, (a 2% increase in real terms on 2002/3 figures.) Colleges achieving their targets would then continue to receive 'sustained increases' in the unit of funding, while those exceeding their targets will attract 'a premium rate'. The poorer performers will attract only an increase in line with inflation until performance improves and will be offered support by the LSC, with the possibility of intervention.

To recognise excellence across the sector, the award of Learning and Skills Beacon status for high performing providers will be extended to the full range of learning and skills providers. Achievement of this award will mean less frequent or 'less intense' inspection. A scheme of awards for teachers, lecturers, trainers, managers and support staff, in line with the National Teaching Awards for schools will be introduced.