13 July 2007
The delivery of flagship skills programmes remains on track despite the decision to split the former Department for Education and Skills in two, a senior education official claimed this week.
David Bell, permanent secretary at the now Department for Children, Schools and Families, assured MPs that the rollout of the new, vocational 14–19 diplomas would continue to be his responsibility and would be unaffected by the machinery-of-government changes.
But he admitted that, two weeks on from the split, there was still no decision as to which department would sponsor the existing apprenticeship programme. 'You can see the arguments both ways and that one hasn't been resolved,' he told the Commons education and skills select committee on July 11.
Bell acknowledged that colleagues at the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills needed to be involved with vocational education programmes but said there was no sense of an 'awkward join' between the two new ministries.
He told the MPs: 'We are just thinking through with Dius what those formal mechanisms [on joint working will be]. We don't want to over-bureaucratise it, but we need to make sure it works effectively.'
He added that the introduction of cross-departmental Public Service Agreements later this year would place a greater onus on Whitehall departments to work in tandem.
Earlier in the session Bell endorsed the creation of two new education departments, saying it sent out a good signal about the importance of education in the broadest sense, with two secretaries of state now responsible for it. 'We are absolutely up for what's happened,' he said.
Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls set out the priorities for his new department in a statement to Parliament on July 10. He announced a
wide-ranging package of measures, including a major review of maths teaching in primary schools, the extension of personalised education and a renewed focus on pupil behaviour.
He said: 'Our mission is to ensure that every child has the chance to make the most of their talents and fulfil their potential.
'We can only bring genuine opportunity for every child if every child gets the best possible start in life and all the support they need to be happy, healthy and successful.'
Balls denied reports that he was giving more scope to local authorities to control academies, but officials suggested that co-operation between councils and government to increase the number of academies could be more tightly enforced.
With Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Balls will also co-chair a new National Council for Educational Excellence which will aim to drive forward the government's long-term aspirations for children.
Members will be drawn from business and the voluntary sector as well as the education world.
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