28 May 2004
Further education colleges have been told to set up a new body that will cut bureaucracy by allowing them to regulate themselves.
A bureaucracy task force, established by the Learning and Skills Council almost three years ago, has called for the creation of a body similar to the Law Society or the British Medical Association. It would set ethical standards for colleges and other providers of post-16 learning, including private trainers, and effectively police the sector by self-auditing its members.
The LSC has already given high-performing colleges greater flexibility over auditing and funding. All colleges are due to move to three-year funding from August.
Sir George Sweeney, who chaired the task force, said it was now up to colleges to show they could take greater control of their affairs. 'Self-regulation is not something that can simply be imposed or gifted,' he said.
Mark Haysom, chief executive of the LSC, said the council's new business cycle would support self-regulation. 'Successful education and training providers will find the LSC oversees them with a lighter touch, enabling them to focus on teaching,' he said.
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