DIUS FE and Skills e-Newsletter

Audience: FE college principals/governors, training providers, school sixth forms, local authorities, voluntary providers and national partners/stakeholders

DIUS and DCSF are seeking your views on proposals for implementing the Machinery of Government (MoG) changes.

Following last year's MoG changes which announced the transfer of funding for 16-19 year olds from the LSC to Local Authorities, DIUS and DCSF have been working with partners to develop proposals for changes to both the pre and post 19 systems. We are now consulting on these proposals. The consultation, which was launched on 17 March, will last for three months and will include 9 consultation events around the country during April and May.

We want to know what you think of these important proposals and how you think they will work in practice so please do respond to the consultation and/or attend one of the events. The consultation document, 'Raising expectations: Enabling the system to deliver', is available at http://www.dius.gov.uk/consultations. We will let you know more about the events once arrangements have been finalised.

• Raising expectations: Enabling the system to deliver

Audience: All with an interest in skills for employment - as users or providers

From 17 March we say good bye to the 'gremlins' and, working closely with the LSC, launch a fresh new marketing campaign focusing on adult numeracy.

Millions of adults in England can struggle with everyday tasks, such as working out percentages or how much a credit card costs. Adults with good basic skills can earn ?50,000 more over their lifetime than those with poorer skills. The new campaign will remind adults of the benefits of improving their skills, build their confidence and reassure them that going to college is nothing like their experience at school may have been.

In addition, DIUS has commissioned the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) to lead on the development of a national post-16 numeracy strategy: Numeracy for Employability. The strategy will consult widely and set out what needs to be done through our partners to tackle the numeracy challenge from all angles.

To contribute to the debate, log on to the NCETM website

To find out more about the marketing campaign, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/geton

• NCETM website

Audience: FE college principals/governors, training providers, school sixth forms, local authorities, voluntary providers and national partners/stakeholders

With 95% of schools now working with the National Healthy Schools Programme and 57% at Status, this joint Department of Health and DCSF initiative has proven one of the most popular non-statutory initiatives in schools today.

But does our responsibility to a child's physical health, social development and emotional wellbeing stop once they move into FE? When DH's 'Choosing Health' (2004) introduced the NHSP as a national standard for schools, it also stated that we should 'extend the principles of the NHSP to institutions providing education to an older age group'.

In summer 2007 a consultation exercise was undertaken amongst colleges which highlighted a clear demand for a consistent, national quality based minimum standard for FE.

Sam Mellor, Head of the NHSP says; 'The consultation report showed very strong support amongst colleges and FE bodies for a national healthy colleges scheme. We must now sit down with colleagues in DH, DIUS, DCSF, and Ministers and senior officials, to see if there is enthusiasm to provide the leadership and resources to make this a reality. We should know the outcome shortly.'

• National Healthy Schools Programme

Audience: FE college principals/governors, training providers, school sixth forms, local authorities, voluntary providers and national partners/stakeholders

The MIAP Learner Registration Service (LRS) was officially launched on 14th February at an event attended by representatives from across the education and training sector.
Bill Rammell, in a pre-recorded speech, urged the audience to sign up and start using the service, saying 'Working together we can make a real difference to the lives of millions of learners.'

In light of the recent media interest in MIAP, David Russell, National Director of Resources at the Learning and Skills Council clarified the facts about MIAP.

'The Learner Record will put the learner in control of the information held about their education journey from 14 years of age. It creates a credible record of what they have studied and the qualifications they have achieved in a lifetime. It is not a tracking system and will not include information on exclusions of expulsions. It will only hold factual information such as name, age, postcode, qualifications achieved and courses attended.'

• MIAP website
• Managing Information Across Partners - Paper

Audience: All with an interest in skills for employment - as users or providers

John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, has launched the UK's first skills plan for bioscience. With revenues worth ?3.3bn per annum, the biosciences play a vital role in maintaining the UK's international competitiveness. The plan is called the Bioscience Sector Skills Agreement, and has been brokered by Semta, the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies.

According to research by Semta, many bioscience companies do not have the science skills they need in their existing workforce. Many also have hard to fill vacancies, and the skills shortages in the science arena is five times higher than for other sectors. The Sector Skills Agreement will help enable the sector to deal with this.

Main priorities identified by the agreement include enhancing leadership and entrepreneurship, achieving a top-quality workforce, improving the sector's image and attractiveness, as well as improving employer engagement.

To join other bioscience companies who will be putting the agreement's plan into action, please call Darren Race on 01740 627000 or e-mail drace@semta.org.uk

• View SEMTA press release

Audience: FE college principals, HR directors, staff development managers and all FE teachers, tutors and trainers

New regulations require all FE college teachers, trainers and tutors to register as members of the Institute for Learning (IfL) by 31 March 2008, to demonstrate that they maintain their teaching professionalism. Teachers at all other LSC-funded providers across the learning and skills sector will need to register by 30 September 2008.

The regulations, which came into force on 1 September 2007 and form part of the Government's wider FE workforce reforms, also require teachers to undertake at least 30 hours' continuing professional development (CPD) each year and abide by a code of professional practice. Membership of IfL offers teachers the opportunity to exercise their voice, develop a professional identity and gain support for their professional development.

The government will meet the full cost of online registration for teachers in LSC-funded institutions, who will not be asked to pay when registering. Join online at www.ifl.ac.uk.

• Institute for Learning

Audience: FE college principals/governors, training providers, school sixth forms, local authorities, voluntary providers and national partners/stakeholders

On 26 February, John Denham and Bill Rammell attended the further education colleges scenario planning workshop event with nearly 200 college Principals and stakeholders. The focus was on the new opportunities and challenges facing colleges and what they need to do to respond effectively to these and prepare themselves for the future. The event generated a lot of useful pointers that will be fed into the Machinery of Government consultation and other policy development. A report of the key points will be available on the DIUS website shortly DIUS website

• Workshop report - available shortly

Audience: All with an interest in skills for employment - as users or providers, FE college principals and training providers.

'Public funding for English language teaching should be targeted where it will have the biggest impact on community cohesion and integration' Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, announced recently as part of a consultation.

The consultation follows a report published last year by the Commission for Integration and Cohesion, 'Our Shared Vision', which highlighted the importance of good English language skills. You can see the consultation at http://www.esolconsultation.org.uk.

We want to hear what you think of the proposals put forward in our consultation document. We have therefore organised a series of consultation events in various locations as follows:

• Monday 17th March Rochdale
• Tuesday 1st April Peterborough
• Thursday 3rd April Bristol

Places are by invitation only and will be allocated first- come first-served. Venue details will be sent to you nearer the time. For more details please contact the Central Office of Information (COI) on: 020 7261 8400.

• View consultation

Audience: FE college principals/governors, training providers, school sixth forms, local authorities, voluntary providers and national partners/stakeholders, all staff and managers of FE college and independent providers, and national partners/stakeholders

Becta has published a report on the development of its technology strategy for further education, skills and regeneration.

The strategy is part of Becta's work to update 'Harnessing Technology' (the national e-strategy to improve education, skills and children's services) but the focus is on the issues that really matter to learners and staff across the FE system. It addresses learner needs, content and resources, digital infrastructure, workforce development and much more. It will support all colleges and providers as they develop their capacity and capability in technology.

The strategy is being developed in partnership with national agencies including LSC, QIA, CEL, LLUK and Ofsted and in consultation with colleges and providers themselves. Comments on the strategy are welcome but must reach Becta (feskills@becta.org.uk) by 15 March.

Becta plans to publish an implementation plan for the strategy after Easter (there is a draft plan in the progress report).

• Becta website
• Harnessing technology for FE, skills and regeneration: progress report

Audience: FE college principals/governors, training providers, school sixth forms, local authorities, voluntary providers and national partners/stakeholders

Congratulations to the winners of the latest round of the Queen's Anniversary Prizes for outstanding work in colleges and universities. College winners in England were:

• City and Islington College, recognised for creating pathways to employment and HE in the sciences
• The City Literary Institute, which developed a distinctive approach to speech therapy that supports and empowers people who stammer
• Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College, recognised for its strategy for high aspiration, personal achievement and social benefit and
• Telford College of Arts and Technology, which won an award for its work in delivering economically important skills on employers' premises.

These award-winning colleges, like many others who are known locally for the excellent work they do within their communities, are helping to raise the profile and reputation of FE and gain well-deserved recognition for its wide range of achievements.

More information on the winning colleges can be found on the Royal Anniversary Trust website.

• Royal Anniversary Trust website

Audience: FE college principals and training providers

During the last month DIUS Ministers have visited the following colleges:

• North Warwickshire & Hinckley College
• Matthew Boulton College (to open a new Design and Performing Arts Studio)
• Sparsholt College

In addition, Jim Knight, Minister of State for Schools and Learners went to Kingston Maurward College to open a new Learning Resource Centre.

Senior officials in DIUS also regularly visit colleges and training providers to talk to staff and students and to see first hand the work they are doing. Cirencester College, Stroud College and Telford College have all been visited during this period.

Audience: FE college principals/governors, training providers, school sixth forms, local authorities, voluntary providers and national partners/stakeholders

March is a crucial month for FE providers as enquiries for courses starting in September begin to come in. Therefore the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) will be launching another phase of its already successful Value of learning campaign to accompany this surge in interest. Adverts on regional radio and in national press will run from 18th February to 16th March 2008, and will be accompanied by a campaign toolkit for FE providers to support your marketing operations.

The Value of Learning Toolkit will support FE and WBL providers' efforts to encourage learners to invest their time and own money in further learning. This resource will be available on the Campaign Resource Site. Here you will find imagery, copy of the press ad, Q & As, killer facts, a template press release and more! This pack will also be sent out in hard copy to all providers.

For more information visit the Campaign Resources Site or call the Skills Stakeholder helpline on 0207 413 3400 or email skillscampaign@lsc.gov.uk

• Campaign resources website

Audience: FE college principals, governors and managers responsible for quality improvement and curriculum development; chief executives of training providers; school sixth forms; sixth form colleges; local authorities; voluntary, adult and community learning and offender learning providers; and national partners/stakeholders

'Employer engagement' is the theme of the latest issue of Quality Improvement, the journal for sharing innovation and excellence in the further education system.

Published by the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA), this quarterly journal keeps you up to date with policy reforms, highlights teaching and learning methods that work, helps you increase your learner and employer satisfaction and contains summaries of research focusing on effective teaching as well as opinions from key people in the sector.

Featured in this issue is a viewpoint from Dame Ruth Silver, principal of Lewisham College, who was recently appointed chair of the new sector-lead improvement and leadership organisation bringing together the work of QIA and CEL.

Quality Improvement is free. To subscribe to the journal and/or QIA's new e-newsletters visit the QIA website, email subscribe.unsubscribe@qia.org,uk, or call 0870 2113 434.

QIA has also announced the dates for its 2008 conferences. See the website for more information.

• QIA website

Audience: All staff and managers of FE college and independent providers, and national partners/stakeholders, local authorities and their partners, skills for life practitioners, teachers, support staff, union learning reps, employers, voluntary organisations who work with the unemployed and anyone with an interest in literacy or numeracy

All forms of good adult learning are valuable. Whether vocational, or simply for personal enlightenment and fulfilment, adult learning contributes immeasurably to the wellbeing and health of our society.

Our country enjoys a rich and diverse history of adult education. Much of today's learning has its roots in sources as varied as Victorian philanthropy, the trades union movement, faith groups, local councils and the technical institutes established by manufacturers.

We continue to value informal adult learning. As this consultation sets out, informal learning is supported by DIUS and many other Government departments.

We'd like to hear your views. To view and download the consultation document, and to respond to the consultation, please visit www.adultlearningconsultation.org.uk

• View consultation

Audience: All staff and managers of FE college and independent providers, and national partners/stakeholders, local authorities and their partners, skills for life practitioners, teachers, support staff, union learning reps, employers, voluntary organisations who work with the unemployed and anyone with an interest in literacy or numeracy

A new set of Quick Reads books were launched on world Book Day, 6 March. Events took place at No.10 Downing Street and Wembley Stadium. Champion athlete, television star and Quick Reads author, Colin Jackson, 'sprinted' from one to the other.

Quick Reads are short, fast-paced books for adult learners and readers. Other authors of the 2008 books include Gilda O'Neill, Josephine Cox and Gordon Ramsay. In a recent survey of tutors and learners, nine out of 10 adults said their reading skills had improved and that they felt more confident after reading a Quick Reads book. Well over 9,000 organisations have signed up to participate in the initiative, and Quick Reads are available in over 800 workplaces, over 1,000 doctors' surgeries and in each of the 6,000 BBC RaW centres across the country.

Free learning resources linked to the Quick Reads books have been produced to help integrate Quick Reads in to the classroom and enhance literacy teaching.

For more information go to http://www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/world_book_day