In advance of the Campaign for Learning's seminar on 19th September, Mark Corney assesses the Government's current consultation on funding reform for Apprenticeships in England and sets out the issues.
Money will ultimately determine the outcome of the apprenticeship funding consultation.* Who pays, how much they will pay and who controls the purse strings are the questions that matter.
Getting the financial incentives wrong in small scale pilots is permissible. Getting them wrong in large mainstream programmes such as apprenticeships is not an option.
The Coalition Government published its response to the Richard Review in the Spring. Yet the ministerial foreword to consultation paper published in July tellingly states “one crucial aspect of this reform agenda was deliberately not addressed – funding.”
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Saving BIS a billion
 |
| Potential options for savings from Higher Education and Adult FE |
Planned revenue
spending by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in
2014/15 is £13.8bn. If the Treasury and BIS agree on savings of 8% in
2015/16, the Spending Revenue on the 26th June would
confirm savings of £1.1bn.
The rumour in the FE sector is that the entire saving will be made from the adult FE budget. Meanwhile, the HE sector has convinced itself that universities will bear the brunt of the entire savings through cuts in HEFCE funding and downward pressure on fees because of competition.
The truth is that neither of the sectors will face the full £1.1bn of cuts. A package of savings across both adult FE and HE is the most likely outcome.
The rumour in the FE sector is that the entire saving will be made from the adult FE budget. Meanwhile, the HE sector has convinced itself that universities will bear the brunt of the entire savings through cuts in HEFCE funding and downward pressure on fees because of competition.
The truth is that neither of the sectors will face the full £1.1bn of cuts. A package of savings across both adult FE and HE is the most likely outcome.
Friday, 14 June 2013
Adult Apprenticeships: Funding the User
by Mark Corney
The signs are that the Coalition Government is intent on routing public funding for adult apprenticeships through the user rather than the provider.
The question Whitehall must resolve in Spending Review 2013, due to be published on the 26th June is whether the user is defined as the individual or the employer.
The signs are that the Coalition Government is intent on routing public funding for adult apprenticeships through the user rather than the provider.
The question Whitehall must resolve in Spending Review 2013, due to be published on the 26th June is whether the user is defined as the individual or the employer.
Tuesday, 4 June 2013
Why no 18-24 traineeships?
by Mark Corney
One by one representative bodies have proclaimed surprise and disappointment at the decision by the Coalition to restrict ‘traineeships’ primarily to 16-18 year olds and delay them for 18-24 year olds.
Economists would point out that they have been surprised because they have focused on the wrong variable.
The delay is not to do with the budget for delivering 18-24 traineeships paid to providers and funded by BIS but the cost of benefits trainees will receive paid by DWP. The failure of the framework document* to have ‘DWP’ on the front cover gives the game away.
One by one representative bodies have proclaimed surprise and disappointment at the decision by the Coalition to restrict ‘traineeships’ primarily to 16-18 year olds and delay them for 18-24 year olds.
Economists would point out that they have been surprised because they have focused on the wrong variable.
The delay is not to do with the budget for delivering 18-24 traineeships paid to providers and funded by BIS but the cost of benefits trainees will receive paid by DWP. The failure of the framework document* to have ‘DWP’ on the front cover gives the game away.
Tuesday, 7 May 2013
Leading on LEPs and Adult FE
by Mark Corney
Both the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Department for Communities and Local Government have joint responsibility for network of 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
The ‘Business, Innovation and Skills’ select committee of the House of Commons has recently proposed that BIS should be the lead department for LEPs. In addition, the select committee supports the idea of a single-pot devolved to LEPs and core cities and expects the Government to set out its scope and size in the formal response to the report.*
Assigning to BIS lead-department status for LEPs would be an intriguing move. The same department is also responsible for the £1.8bn adult further education budget.
Both the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Department for Communities and Local Government have joint responsibility for network of 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
The ‘Business, Innovation and Skills’ select committee of the House of Commons has recently proposed that BIS should be the lead department for LEPs. In addition, the select committee supports the idea of a single-pot devolved to LEPs and core cities and expects the Government to set out its scope and size in the formal response to the report.*
Assigning to BIS lead-department status for LEPs would be an intriguing move. The same department is also responsible for the £1.8bn adult further education budget.
Friday, 26 April 2013
Young people: A week of stories
by Mark Corney
The TechBacc Divide
The Department for Education has launched the new TechBacc. The policy rationale is to give vocational education the high status it deserves. The political rationale is to offer a rival to Labour's TechBacc.
Under the Coalition Government, the TechBacc is a measure rather than a qualification, bringing together a Level 3 core Maths qualification alongside a high quality Level 3 vocational qualification and an extended project.
The TechBacc Divide
The Department for Education has launched the new TechBacc. The policy rationale is to give vocational education the high status it deserves. The political rationale is to offer a rival to Labour's TechBacc.
Under the Coalition Government, the TechBacc is a measure rather than a qualification, bringing together a Level 3 core Maths qualification alongside a high quality Level 3 vocational qualification and an extended project.
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Confused by the 'new norm'
by Mark Corney
The Coalition wants 'apprenticeships or university to become the new norm for young people leaving school'. Apart from the reference to a 'new norm' this statement of education and skills policy is little different to that of the last Labour Government.
The problem is that this formulation of policy is as confusing today as it was then. To grasp the confusion it is best to start at the end on this occasion and 'young people and leaving school' are uncomfortable bedfellows.
The Coalition wants 'apprenticeships or university to become the new norm for young people leaving school'. Apart from the reference to a 'new norm' this statement of education and skills policy is little different to that of the last Labour Government.
The problem is that this formulation of policy is as confusing today as it was then. To grasp the confusion it is best to start at the end on this occasion and 'young people and leaving school' are uncomfortable bedfellows.
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