The 157 Group has published Future colleges, a clear vision that places further education colleges at the heart of the future skills system across the UK. The document describes how colleges can be hubs of workforce development, innovators in higher-level technical education and the focus for community cohesion and enterprise strategies that envisage all communities being able to deliver significant economic and personal growth in the coming years. It asks future governments to commit to four key principles in education policy: stable structures, equal treatment, freedom to innovate and durable funding.
Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, “This important document for our colleges builds on Our manifesto for further education and skills, published last year. We are proud to set out a clear vision that places colleges at the very centre of an inspiring and enhanced skills system and demonstrates the vital role that colleges will play in economic growth over the coming years.
“In this report, we evidence clearly how colleges have already led the way in several key areas:
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College delivery of apprenticeships has increased by 83 per cent in the last three years
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Colleges are delivering high-level technical skills training to 900,000 people a year
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Colleges are delivering higher education courses to 180,000 people a year, many of whom would not otherwise study at this level
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Colleges have found inspiring ways of enabling people of all ages to improve their literacy and numeracy skills
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Colleges teach the majority of our 16 to 18-year-olds and prepare them well for employment
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Colleges have enabled employers to develop adult skills in key areas where strong employment growth is expected – such as Stem [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] subjects, social care and retail.
“Our evidence presents a compelling picture in support of the enhancing the role of colleges in our skills system. We know that colleges can lead collaboration across the education system and be accountable for their own performance. With greater real autonomy, college principals will be able to operate as genuine social enterprises, to encourage more private investment in the skills system and to become ever more responsive to the needs of employers. We are confident that today’s document provides a blueprint for the future of a truly world-class skills system.”
Peter Roberts, chair of the 157 Group and chief executive of Leeds City College, said, “In this publication, we demonstrate clearly the impact of colleges and their potential for the future. We enjoy many freedoms as incorporated institutions, but remain subject to a significant amount of government policy.
“To maximise the potential of colleges, we ask that future governments commit to four key principles in education policymaking:
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Stable structures – with no unnecessary changes to institutions or qualifications and an end to top-down delivery initiatives
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Equal treatment – with all educational institutions subject to the same funding and accountability regimes
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Freedom to innovate – with local solutions to local problems being jointly developed by college and business leaders
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Durable funding – so that colleges can sensibly plan with a long-term vision.
“Future policies should be tested against these principles before and during implementation, in order to avoid the unintended consequences we so often see with current initiatives.”
Please click here to download the full Future Colleges report.