WEA Education Blog

Fraud allegations in self-regulated FE

Today's 'Guardian' article (click here) on the allegations of fraud at Manchester College of Arts & Technology has raised questions on the developments in self-regulation in FE. The allegations are around the manipulation of course registers to increase funding.

Whether the allegation are true or not there must be a danger in the current heavy reliance on judgements and contract procurement based on data when this is combined with the drive towards 'self-regulation'. 

The development of the Framework for Excellence looks to apply a standard set of 'metrics' to score providers and assist the LSC and, perhaps, its successor organisations determine who should be funded.

Alongside this we have the potential that self-regulation could allow a virtual cartel of providers to dominate decision making, reducing the authority of the funding agencies and effectively turning the inspectorate into a rating agency.

It's not hard to see in this many of the elements that existed in the finance system over the last few years. Perhaps even more worrying is the possibility that, within education, there may be senior managers who are prepared to cheat their way to 'excellence'.

LSC Adult learner Priorities for 2009-10

The LSC has published its Statement of Priorities for 2009-10. The whole document is available here. It's 66 pages long. The key pages for adult learning and the WEA are from 30-40 (which you can access here: Download LSC Adult Priorities extract)

Important for the WEA will be the section on page 35 regarding Specialist Designated Institutions. However, on other pages, the increased flexibility in Train to Gain, addressing the needs of unemployed adults, literacy, numeracy and ESOL, Foundation Learning Tier, fee income, the Framework for Excellence and Equality & Diversity are all significant areas the WEA needs to work on.

WEA funding summary for 2008-09

The funding allocation to the WEA for 2008-09 has been confirmed and Sally Burke has produced a single side summary of our main national contract for next year.

This has been circulated to Association Committee and Trustees but you may find this summary useful when considering next year's work and in the context of the very significant changes to the funding methodology facing the whole of FE funded provision. This coming year we have a 'safeguard' at 100% of last year. The LSC is currently reviewing us with other SDIs and Former External Institutions to determine how we can be funded from August 2009.

You can download the summary here: Download funding_summary_0809.doc

New LSC funding models from 2008-09

The LSC published guidance for information on the 30th November on the new funding models from 2008-09. Next year will see the biggest change in the method of funding since 2001. You can download the document here Download nat-16-18-adult-and-emp-resp-funding-models.pdf. Further information and guidance will be developed over the next few months.

New Learning & Skills Council Statement of Priorities

On Friday the LSC released its Statement of Priorities on its website click here. You can download the whole thing in .pdf ( a snappy 60 pages!)

Much of the media attention has been around NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training). But what of adult learning and the position of the WEA?

Pages 40 and 41 say:
"The continuing emphasis on our priorities for adult learning will require all institutions to consider how they can contribute most effectively to our strategy – offering a wider range of adult learning and contributing to the targets for Skills for Life, full Level 2 and full Level 3 achievements.

This will particularly be the case for local adult learning providers (including former external institutions) and specialist designated institutions  (This includes the WEA)

We propose to undertake a full review of the strategic role of these groups of providers, to help to identify how their important contribution to wider adult learning will be supported and delivered in the longer term. Pending this review, we will ensure that the institutions have reasonable budgetary stability in 2008/09. Local adult learning providers (including former external institutions) will receive at least 90 per cent of their 2007/08 budgets. The funds that specialist designated institutions receive for delivering PCDL will be maintained.

This protection will be subject to an assessment of the quality of provision and any Notices to Improve, so that we achieve the right balance between
budgetary stability and securing high quality provision for learners.

Later this year, the Government will consult more widely on informal adult education. This will mark a significant evolution of the strategy to ensure hat more people engage in learning for its own sake."