By Vivienne Russell
8 February 2010
Council leaders and schools chiefs are calling for a radical slimming down of the structures governing post-16 education.
The Local Government Association, together with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, today warn that, unless the unwieldy bureaucracy is simplified, public money will go to waste.
From April this year, local government is taking on responsibility for commissioning £7bn of further education and training for 16–19 year olds. But this work will be overseen by the Young People’s Learning Agency, a quango employing 500 people.
Councils are protesting at this additional layer of bureaucracy, insisting they are well placed to discharge their commissioning responsibilities without external oversight. The LGA points out that the £35bn is handed directly to councils, with no quango overseeing proceedings.
Shireen Ritchie, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: ‘Councils have better knowledge of job opportunities in their region than any national body and are best placed to provide the training and learning which will help students progress, particularly during difficult economic times. While town hall staff do the work of organising education and training courses, the new system means twice as many people will be looking over their shoulders.
‘Public money is a treasured resource. All public funds have to work as hard as possible and it is wrong to have money tied up in layers of administration and oversight which should instead be committed to helping people achieve their potential through education and employment.’
Kim Bromley-Derry, chair of the ADCS, said FE resources needed to be focused on the needs of local people and communities.
He said it was vital that there was a ‘balance between national and local organisations’ to give local areas the freedom to encourage all young people to fulfil their potential.
The April changes will also see the establishment of a new Skills Funding Agency, which will be responsible for commissioning £2bn worth of adult education. Within that will sit the National Apprenticeship Service, responsible for handling a £1bn budget for apprentices of all ages.
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families refuted the claims, saying the YPLA would bring significant benefits.
He said: '[The YPLA] will be a slimline organisation, about a quarter of the size of the organisation it is replacing, the LSC. The fact it will have functions at national level rather than local authority level will create efficiencies, and existing LSC skills and expertise will be retained to perform these. The YPLA’s key role will actually be to support for local authorities.'
8 February 2010
Council leaders and schools chiefs are calling for a radical slimming down of the structures governing post-16 education.
The Local Government Association, together with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, today warn that, unless the unwieldy bureaucracy is simplified, public money will go to waste.
From April this year, local government is taking on responsibility for commissioning £7bn of further education and training for 16–19 year olds. But this work will be overseen by the Young People’s Learning Agency, a quango employing 500 people.
Councils are protesting at this additional layer of bureaucracy, insisting they are well placed to discharge their commissioning responsibilities without external oversight. The LGA points out that the £35bn is handed directly to councils, with no quango overseeing proceedings.
Shireen Ritchie, chair of the LGA’s children and young people board, said: ‘Councils have better knowledge of job opportunities in their region than any national body and are best placed to provide the training and learning which will help students progress, particularly during difficult economic times. While town hall staff do the work of organising education and training courses, the new system means twice as many people will be looking over their shoulders.
‘Public money is a treasured resource. All public funds have to work as hard as possible and it is wrong to have money tied up in layers of administration and oversight which should instead be committed to helping people achieve their potential through education and employment.’
Kim Bromley-Derry, chair of the ADCS, said FE resources needed to be focused on the needs of local people and communities.
He said it was vital that there was a ‘balance between national and local organisations’ to give local areas the freedom to encourage all young people to fulfil their potential.
The April changes will also see the establishment of a new Skills Funding Agency, which will be responsible for commissioning £2bn worth of adult education. Within that will sit the National Apprenticeship Service, responsible for handling a £1bn budget for apprentices of all ages.
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families refuted the claims, saying the YPLA would bring significant benefits.
He said: '[The YPLA] will be a slimline organisation, about a quarter of the size of the organisation it is replacing, the LSC. The fact it will have functions at national level rather than local authority level will create efficiencies, and existing LSC skills and expertise will be retained to perform these. The YPLA’s key role will actually be to support for local authorities.'
