3.In June 1999, the Government published a White Paper, Learning to Succeed, on its proposals for post-16 learning. It proposed reforms to modernise and simplify arrangements for the planning, funding, delivery and quality assurance of post-16 education and training (other than higher education). It sought to improve coherence with secondary education. It also sought to bring together other bodies responsible for learning opportunities and the development of skills in the workforce.
4.The White Paper built on the principles first set out in the Government’s Green Paper, The Learning Age, and two consultation exercises launched in July 1998 and March 1999 on, respectively, a review of Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) and on the structures for post-16 education and training. Linked with the White Paper were further consultation exercises: the first, on the funding of school sixth forms and the second, on proposals for a new support service for young people recommended by the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU).
5.The Secretary of State for Education and Employment published his conclusions following those consultation exercises and set out his proposals for how the new post-16 structure would work at national and local level in the Learning and Skills Council Prospectus, published on 14 December 1999. His conclusions on the new youth support service (the Connexions Service) were published in a document called Connexions - the best start in life for every young person on 3 February 2000.
6.Following public consultation, the Education and Training Action Group for Wales published its Action Plan for post-16 learning in March 1999 and submitted its proposals to the National Assembly for Wales. The Action Plan made recommendations for modernising the planning and delivery of high quality post-16 education and training in Wales. On 1 February 2000, the National Assembly endorsed the overall principles, objectives and outcomes set out in the Action Plan.
7.At Annex 1 is a list of relevant documents. The Act gives effect to the proposals set out in these documents.
8.The core of the Act is the establishment of a new non-departmental public body, the Learning and Skills Council for England (LSC) which will be responsible for post-16 learning, other than higher education. It will take over functions performed by the Further Education Funding Council for England (FEFCE) and the functions currently contracted by the Secretary of State to TECs. The LSC will operate through a network of 47 local councils. It will take on from Local Education Authorities (LEAs) their duties in respect of adult and community learning. The divisions between the responsibilities for the provision of further education in colleges, work-based training and adult and community learning will be removed.
9.The Act also brings about changes in Wales. It creates a new National Council for Education and Training for Wales (CETW) with broadly similar functions to the LSC in England, but with some variations to reflect Welsh circumstances.
10.The new structures will be supported at local and national level by rigorous and independent external inspection. In England, the Act establishes a new Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) which will inspect all further education for those aged 19 and over and work-based training for all ages. The Act also extends the functions of the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED), enabling it to inspect provision for 16 to 19 year olds in the further education sector as well as in schools. The Act provides for a single common framework for inspection to be drawn up and agreed by OFSTED and ALI; provides for joint inspections where the provision falls within the remit of both bodies; and also provides for inspections of provision across a geographical area. In Wales, the current Inspectorate, Estyn, will take on wider responsibilities for all post-16 inspection. The LSC and the CETW are to have powers to intervene where inspections have found that LEA-maintained 16 to 19 provision is inadequate.
11.The Act enables the Secretary of State to establish a new youth support service in England, to be known as the Connexions Service. The aim of the new service will be to work with young people of all abilities to give them advice, guidance and support to participate effectively in learning. It will provide a universal service and pay particular attention to removing the barriers to participation in learning from the young people most disadvantaged. The Act will place a duty on other statutory bodies to co-operate with and support the new service and enable effective collecting and sharing of relevant information about the status of young people. The Act will require the Secretary of State to make arrangements for inspection of the service provision. In Wales, the Act empowers the National Assembly for Wales to enhance local youth support services for all 11 to 25 year olds through local authorities, voluntary organisations or others.
12.The Act aims to improve the coherence between the secondary education and further education (FE) systems by providing for funding for school sixth forms to flow to LEAs from the LSC and the CETW, by removing obstacles to collaboration between the national funding body, schools, LEAs and FE institutions and by enabling the creation of LEA-maintained institutions for 16 to 19 year olds.
13.Other provisions of the Act include:
	the approval of external qualifications by the Secretary of State and the National Assembly for public funding purposes;
	powers for the Secretary of State and the National Assembly to give financial support for education and training within a scheme known as “Individual Learning Accounts”;
	the enabling of newly qualified school teachers to meet the requirements for induction through teaching in the FE sector;
	assessments of young people with special education needs in transition from school to other post-16 learning;
	powers for the Secretary of State and the National Assembly to incorporate designated sixth form colleges;
	the establishment of city academies, a new type of publicly-funded independent secondary school for urban areas;
	changes to the legislation governing the provision of sex education in schools.
Summary