Research for the Association of Colleges on how stronger governance could help England's post-16 skills system meet the demands of a changing economy.
The Association of Colleges commissioned Work Advance to explore where improvements in skills governance could strengthen England's skills reform programme and deliver better outcomes for learners and employers.
Successive reforms, from the 2016 Post-16 Skills Plan to the Augar Review, have sought to build a post-16 skills system on a par with leading nations: industry-facing, responsive to a fast-changing economy and supporting lifelong learning for all. Yet many persistent challenges remain.
The project considered how stronger governance could make the system fit for the future world of work. Key functions include setting priorities, defining financial and non-financial incentives, supporting policy innovation, assuring quality, monitoring and evaluating impact, developing institutional infrastructure and enabling deep stakeholder collaboration.
Drawing on international evidence, including OECD work on "future-proofing" skills systems, the research focused on the value of a new dedicated skills body, and how it could be organised, governed and resourced to work with partners across the system.
Strengthening governance of the English post-16 skills system
Association of Colleges, 2024
Lesley Giles, Work Advance
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