FY 2011-12 No. 10
Policy Update
31st August – 26th September 2011
In this issue
FE, Skills, Economy and Employment .............................................................................................. 3
Ofsted consultation: Common Inspection Framework 2012 ................................................................... 3
Ofsted publishes statistics on learning and skills inspections and outcomes.......................................... 3
Ofsted’s involvement strategy 2011-15 .................................................................................................. 4
Government cuts apprenticeship red tape ............................................................................................. 4
New skills support to ‘lift’ jobless out of unemployment .......................................................................... 5
Government announces organisational changes to Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and
Carers Service ....................................................................................................................................... 5
BIS call for expressions of interest: further education outcomes ............................................................ 6
UKCES publishes briefing papers on equalities and skills in a changing economy ................................ 6
Northamptonshire local enterprise partnership approved ....................................................................... 6
New programme recruits young leaders ................................................................................................ 7
Employers’ recruitment behaviour and decisions: small and medium enterprises .................................. 7
Clarity on minimum wage eligibility ........................................................................................................ 7
Executive remuneration discussion paper ............................................................................................. 8
14-19 and Schools .................................................................................................................................. 8
Proposed changes to allow qualified teachers from further education and from the United States,
Canada, Australia and New Zealand to become permanent teachers in English schools ...................... 8
Proposed changes to the newly qualified teacher (NQT) induction regulations for England ................... 9
20 pathfinders to test out proposals in the special educational needs and disabilities Green Paper ...... 9
Ofsted: Leadership of more than one school report ............................................................................. 10
Schools given freedom from rules to have control over school day ...................................................... 11
National Citizen Service 2012 providers announced ............................................................................ 11
DfE: Benchmarking Tables of Local Authority Planned Expenditure 2011-12 ...................................... 11
AoC commissioned research on post-GCSE education choices .......................................................... 12
Young people’s and parents’ views of vocational education and careers guidance.............................. 12
NatCen research on the English Baccalaureate and GCSE choices .................................................... 12
LSIS Policy Update No. 10
31st August – 26th September 2011
£2 million scholarship scheme to support teacher development .......................................................... 13
Higher Education .................................................................................................................................. 13
HEFCE research: UK universities contribute £3 billion to economic growth ......................................... 13
Local Government and Wider Public Sector ................................................................................ 14
Evaluation of the Family and Young Carer Pathfinders Programme .................................................... 14
LBRO research: the citizen in regulation.............................................................................................. 14
£10m fund to back Big Society innovators opened .............................................................................. 15
Citizenship Survey: April 2010 – March 2011 ...................................................................................... 15
A study of participatory budgeting in England: final report ................................................................... 16
Grant Shapps: Tenants to be trained to take control of their neighbourhoods post-riots ...................... 16
Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill ........................................................................................ 17
Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries published ......................................... 17
Bill establishes fixed-term Parliaments ................................................................................................ 17
Equality and Diversity ......................................................................................................................... 18
Principles for a voluntary approach to gender equality reporting published .......................................... 18
Inquiry into disability-related harassment ............................................................................................. 19
Stonewall extends its strategic lobbying to include overseas work ....................................................... 19
Voluntary and Community Sector ................................................................................................... 19
Guidance on local authority work with the voluntary and community sector ......................................... 19
Devolved Administrations.................................................................................................................. 20
Scottish Spending Review 2011 .......................................................................................................... 20
Announcement on reform of Scottish post-16 education ...................................................................... 21
Review of teacher employment in Scotland ......................................................................................... 21
Changes to Adult Apprenticeship funding in Northern Ireland announced ........................................... 21
International .......................................................................................................................................... 22
Education trends report highlights need for effective funding for schools and universities ................... 22
New Faces.............................................................................................................................................. 23
Metropolitan police commissioner announced ..................................................................................... 23
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FE, Skills, Economy and Employment
1st September – Ofsted consultation: Common Inspection Framework 2012
Ofsted has launched a consultation on proposals to revise the inspection of further education (FE)
colleges, work-based learning providers, adult and community learning (ACL) provision and ‘Next Step’
provision. All inspections of the FE and skills sector in England are based on Ofsted’s Common Inspection
Framework and the changes proposed are intended to streamline and simplify the framework and focus it
more sharply on the areas that have most impact.
From September 2012 Ofsted proposes that learning and skills inspections will:
report on the quality of provision in the further education and skills sector, and judge the overall
effectiveness of the providers inspected;
focus on the outcomes for learners, the quality of the teaching, and how well the provision is led and
managed;
report on the extent to which provision meets the needs of learners, helping them to achieve their
potential and progress into employment or further education and training; and
promote higher standards for learners by focusing more on the quality of teaching.
Ofsted also proposes to:
assess the performance and other risk factors of all providers on an annual basis in order to make fully
informed decisions about when a provider should be inspected;
target inspection to bring about more rapid improvement in providers judged to be inadequate;
inspect providers previously judged as good within six years of their last inspection;
take greater account of the views of learners, employers, parents and carers in deciding when a
provider should be inspected; and
strengthen monitoring and inspection of satisfactory providers including the possibility of unannounced
monitoring inspections of some providers who have failed to improve over a number of inspections.
It is proposed to cease:
the routine inspection of most providers judged outstanding at their last inspection unless their
performance drops.
The consultation on the CIF will close on 24th November 2011.
In October Ofsted will also be consulting on a new framework for inspecting residential accommodation in
further education colleges.
12th September – Ofsted publishes statistics on learning and skills inspections and
outcomes
Ofsted has published provisional statistics on the inspection of learning and skills providers in England for
the quarter April to June 2011. Ofsted will release final statistics and findings for this period on 6
December 2011. Key findings include that between 1 September 2010 and 30 June 2011:
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there were 306 full inspections and 12 full re-inspections of learning and skills providers. This included
84 colleges, none of which had an overall effectiveness judgement of outstanding at the previous
inspection;
of the 84 colleges inspected, five were outstanding and 34 were judged to be good. Of the remaining
45, four were found to be inadequate;
of the 159 independent learning providers inspected, the majority were providing good or outstanding
work-based learning programmes. Sixteen providers were judged outstanding and a further 73 were
good. Ten providers were found to be inadequate;
of the 47 adult and community learning providers inspected, only one was judged outstanding, although
the large majority were judged to be good. Thirteen providers were satisfactory and none was
inadequate; and
there were 19 inspections of prison and young offender institutions and nine probation inspections.
None of these providers was judged to be outstanding and two prison and young offender institutions
were judged inadequate. Of the remaining prison and young offender institutions, six were good and 11
were satisfactory. Two of the nine probation providers were judged to be good and seven were
satisfactory.
21st September – Ofsted’s involvement strategy 2011-15
Ofsted has published a strategy paper which sets out how it will encourage and promote involvement from
the people who use the services it inspects through:
information: providing information about Ofsted (including information about how to engage with Ofsted)
and its inspection and regulatory findings;
consultation: seeking opinions about areas of Ofsted’s work and about the services it inspects and
regulates; and
involvement: listening to views and using them to bring about improvement.
Ofsted actions by 2013 will include:
increasing the variety of ways in which people can feed back their views between inspections;
piloting and introducing new ways to gather parents’ and carers’ views to influence inspection selection;
considering, and where appropriate, piloting new ways of gathering the views of adult learners, children
and young people, and employers between inspections;
increasing the quality and impact of responses to consultation of new inspection frameworks; and
enhancing the skills, competencies and confidence of staff to innovate and undertake consultation and
involvement activities.
6th September – Government cuts apprenticeship red tape
Skills minister John Hayes has delivered a speech announcing a package of new measures to make it
easier for employers to take on large numbers of apprentices.
Measures for cutting red tape for employers include:
a pilot for over 20 large employers who have volunteered to trial ‘payment by outcomes’ which will
eliminate a number of data returns and audit requirements;
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providing an online plain-English toolkit for employers that clearly explains the end-to-end processes
employers need to undertake for apprenticeships;
streamlining contracting arrangements;
a commitment to no ‘in year’ changes to contracting arrangements;
a more proportionate approach to audit and inspection - reducing preparation time for employers;
greater use of electronic information, thus reducing paperwork; and
a more streamlined certification process.
Progress against this action plan will be monitored via a Task and Finish Group of employers being set up
by the National Apprenticeship Service, with the Skills Funding Agency. This group will report to the
Employer Reference Group and John Hayes, providing six and 12 month progress reports tested against
the views of ‘major employers, the CBI and other key players’.
John Hayes also stated in his speech that a variant on the Group Training Associations theme, with small
employers working with a large ‘totemic’ employer, is ‘worthy of further consideration. Its very nature
generates cross-Sector Skills Council working and a sector-led approach to generate growth. This is
something that I obviously welcome and about which I have been talking to the UK Commission for
Employment and Skills’.
The minister also said that BIS is exploring how it can facilitate greater engagement with small and
medium-sized enterprises in skills, training, and Apprenticeships. That project will report in the autumn.
John Hayes also mentioned a report from the Employer Reference Group which sets out
recommendations for tackling the bureaucracy faced by large direct contract employers delivering
Apprenticeships. The recommendations and actions arising from this project will be taken forward by the
Skills Funding Agency and National Apprenticeship Service, working with BIS and DfE, Ofsted, Ofqual and
other partners including employers and their representative bodies.
7th September – New skills support to ‘lift’ jobless out of unemployment
John Hayes, minister for further education, and Chris Grayling, minister for employment have announced
that jobseekers will be given ‘greater and better co-ordinated access to careers advice’, starting with a pilot
programme designed to boost the number of careers advisers providing services in Jobcentres and help
shape the new National Careers Service, which launches in April 2012.
The pilot programme will give Jobcentre Plus claimants full-time access to careers advice and provide
better, more flexible support to help jobseekers gain the skills to get into work. The pilot will take place in 22
Jobcentre Plus locations across the country.
The co-location is part of a wider package of skills support for those looking for work, which launched in
August. It is designed to provide a more flexible and tailored approach to skills involving Jobcentre Plus,
careers advice, colleges and employers.
12th September – Government announces organisational changes to Jobcentre Plus
and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service
DWP has announced that from 1 October 2011 the day-to-day operations of Jobcentre Plus and the
Pension, Disability and Carers Service will be brought under the leadership of a single chief operating
officer, as part of the restructuring of DWP ‘to make it more efficient and streamline its management’. At
that point Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service will cease to have formal
executive agency status. These changes are part of delivering a 40% reduction in the cost of the corporate
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centre in the Department for Work and Pensions, which includes the headquarter functions of both
executive agencies.
These changes will not affect the way help and support are provided to the public. Services under the
brands of Jobcentre Plus, Pension Service, and Disability and Carers Service will continue to be delivered
to jobseekers, benefit claimants and pensioners as before, ahead of the introduction of Universal Credit in
2013.
13th September – BIS call for expressions of interest: further education outcomes
During the last 18 months BIS has been undertaking various analysis and research to develop the use of
linked data sets containing details of the further education and training courses taken by individuals, and
other information about their spells in and out of work and their earnings from work.
BIS now wishes to commission further research to bring together and refine some of the techniques yielded
by previous research activities and identify a final set of processes, indicators and impact metrics ‘for use in
routine production’ and has issued a call for expressions of interest for further education outcomes. This
would support a range of uses, with different indicators needing to be measured at national and provider
level. In refining the outputs, some further verification and quality assessment will also be required, possibly
linking to records from survey data sources and assessing differences.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 5th October 2011.
21st September – UKCES publishes briefing papers on equalities and skills in a
changing economy
The UK Commission for Employment and Skills has published this series of five Briefing Papers which
presents analysis and commentary on equality and skills in a changing economy. Each of the papers
focuses on a different equality theme or group: disability; gender; low skills and social disadvantage; older
people; and spatial inequality. Key findings from the low skills and social disadvantage paper include:
the number of people of working age in the UK at risk of disadvantage because of low skilled and/or no
qualifications has fallen in recent years, although in 2010 there were still over 1.6 million working-age
people with no qualifications;
just over a quarter of all workless households in 2010 contained individuals with no qualifications. In
2010 over 48 percent of the unqualified were not in employment or unemployed and were not seeking
work; and
once workers achieve basic skills and Level 2 qualifications, they appear more likely to receive training
from their employers.
23rd September – Northamptonshire local enterprise partnership approved
Business minister Mark Prisk and decentralisation minister Greg Clark have announced the approval of a
new local enterprise partnership (LEP) in Northamptonshire.
The Northamptonshire LEP covers the county of Northamptonshire, whose districts are Corby, Daventry,
East Northants, Kettering, Northampton, South Northants and Wellingborough. This LEP covers a
population of around 683,000 and represents over 24,785 businesses. The priority of the private sector-led
partnership is ‘to promote growth and create jobs in the area’. To achieve this, the Northamptonshire
partnership plans to help create 70,000 new jobs over the next 15 years. Its priorities include increasing the
coverage of super-fast broad band, ‘regenerating and improving connectivity between the main population
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areas’, supporting the tourism industry and ‘helping to realise the potential of the growth sectors’ like
advanced manufacturing and engineering, information technology and logistics.
A total of 38 local enterprise partnerships have been announced following the publication of the
government’s Local Growth White Paper in October last year.
21st September – New programme recruits young leaders
Teamv, coordinated by v, NIACE, Charities Aid Foundation and The Rank Foundation, is recruiting
inspirational young people aged 18-25 to run three flagship projects, in which they will coordinate
volunteers to work with them in tackling key social issues in local communities across England.
The programme will focus on key themes such as protecting the planet, promoting healthy living and
regenerating community spaces. To help the young leaders prepare for their roles, they'll be offered training
to equip them with the skills to coordinate local projects and manage volunteers. Teamv leaders will also
manage a small budget, alongside a range of toolkits and resources to help them turn nationally
coordinated projects into positive action.
The three local projects will be rolled out in November 2011 and again in February and May 2012. In June
2012, participants will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony where they can reflect on their skills,
experiences and achievements. Programme graduates will also be able to apply for a Teamv scholarship of
up to £1,000 to support their progression and personal development.
The deadline for applications is 13 October 2011 at 5pm.
16th September – Employers’ recruitment behaviour and decisions: small and
medium enterprises
DWP has published a commissioned report by the Social Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of
York, which explored qualitative research into the recruitment practices of employers in SMEs, particularly
in relation to disabled people.
Employers reported forming first impressions of candidates from their appearance, manner and dress.
Successful candidates were chosen in relation to a range of factors including: flexibility, competence,
reliability, stability, location, attitude to work, personality and honesty.
The findings suggest there is scope to inform employers’ understandings of disability in line with the social
model1 of disability. Employers could also be ‘informed’ of the dangers of making assumptions about
disabled people’s capabilities and of the potential of disabled people once any required adjustments had
been made.
15th September – Clarity on minimum wage eligibility
Updated guidance from Business Link and DirectGov has been published and includes advice on the
payment of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for work experience staff and interns, and clarifies when
someone is entitled to this payment. The guidance also includes a new worker checklist for employers and
examples of case studies, which aim to make sure that those who are entitled to the NMW receive it.
1
This model recognises that impairments and chronic illness pose difficulties for disabled people but would argue that
the main problems are societal barriers which exclude disabled people from taking part fully in society. Such barriers
include the environment (for example, inaccessible buildings), attitudes (stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice)
and organisational procedures and practices which are inflexible and therefore exclusionary. The social approach
argues that societies ‘disable’ people with impairments (Barnes and Mercer, 2005).
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Entitlement to the NMW does not depend on a job title but on whether the arrangement they have with an
organisation makes them a worker for NMW purposes. Where an individual is a worker, and no exemption
applies, then they must be paid at least the NMW.
25th September – Executive remuneration discussion paper
BIS has published a discussion paper which looks at executive remuneration. The paper puts forward
proposals on how to link executive pay more closely to company performance and invites feedback and
further evidence that will help build a stronger understanding of the matter.
This paper is published in conjunction with a consultation on narrative reporting which looks at how to
make company reporting ‘simpler, clearer and more focused’ and which also includes proposals on the
reporting of executive pay. Key questions include:
Are there any further measures that could be taken to prevent payments for failure?
Would there be benefits in requiring companies to include employee representatives on remunerations
committees and what would be the risks and practical implications of any such approach?
Would there be benefits in introducing a requirement to disclose the pay of the highest earning
executive officers below board level and, if so, to which companies and individuals should such an
obligation be extended?
Are there alternative ways of improving shareholder oversight of the performance and pay of influential
non-board executive officers?
14-19 and Schools
22nd September – Proposed changes to allow qualified teachers from further
education and from the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to
become permanent teachers in English schools
DfE has launched a consultation which sets out changes to the qualifications and induction regulations for
teachers in England from April 2012. DfE is seeking seeking feedback on its proposals which include:
teachers from further education with Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status will have
Qualified Teacher Status and will be able to teach in schools as qualified teachers on a permanent
basis;
teachers with QTLS status will be required to maintain their membership of the Institute for Learning
(IfL), in line with policy from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills;
teachers with QTLS status will not be required to complete a statutory induction period in schools;
qualified teachers from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will be able to teach in schools as
qualified teachers on a permanent basis without undertaking additional training or assessment; and
qualified teachers from the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will not be required to complete a
statutory induction period in England.
The consultation will close on 16th December 2011.
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13th September – Proposed changes to the newly qualified teacher (NQT) induction
regulations for England
DfE has published a consultation document which provides details of proposed changes to the Newly
Qualified Teacher (NQT) induction regulations for teachers in England. It is felt that current arrangements
for the induction of NQTs are ‘generally working well’, but could be improved to ensure that they are ‘less
burdensome’ and reflect the needs of all schools, including academies and free schools. The proposals aim
to reduce prescription and provide appropriate bodies and schools with the flexibility to exercise their
professional judgement in relation to their own induction arrangements. These changes would apply to
England only. Proposals detailed in the paper include:
enabling induction to be served in all settings (permitted within primary legislation) which can meet the
required conditions. This will allow institutions such as Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), independent
nurseries not part of an independent school and some British Schools abroad such as those accredited
by the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) to offer induction to their NQTs;
establishing a ‘new independent appropriate body’ for academies and free schools for to provide
independent quality assurance of statutory induction2;
allowing schools to choose which local authority can act as their appropriate body and enable all
appropriate bodies to charge schools for their services;
giving appropriate bodies discretion to reduce the length of an induction period to a minimum of one
term to take account of previous teaching experience – for example where a teacher has been teaching
successfully in the independent sector, or those teachers who have gained QTS via the ‘assessmentonly' route – and enabling teaching schools to act in the role of appropriate body;
removing the 16-month limit on short term supply teaching and replace with a 5-year limit which is
effective from the award of QTS;
retaining the requirement for a 10% reduced teaching timetable; and
retaining the requirement that induction can only be served once with only one chance to pass and in
addition removing the right for teachers who failed probation prior to 1992 to apply to the secretary of
state to carry out specified work.
21st September – 20 pathfinders to test out proposals in the special educational
needs and disabilities Green Paper
DfE has announced that 20 pathfinders, covering 31 local authorities and their Primary Care Trust (PCT)
partners3, will test out the main proposals in the SEN and disabilities Green Paper. The pathfinders will
receive up to £150,000 per local authority per year and will all test some core elements of reform, including:
2
This would mean that academies and free schools would be able to choose as their appropriate body: an
independent organisation determined for this purpose by the Secretary of State for academies and free schools only;
the Independent Schools Council teacher induction panel (ISCtip) if they were a member; a local authority; or a
teaching school.
3
The pathfinder areas are: SE (Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Surrey, West
Sussex), Southampton, Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Wiltshire, Greenwich, Bromley and Bexley,
Lewisham, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, Nottingham County Council, Solihull,
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a single education, health and care plan from birth to 25 years old, focusing on whether outcomes for
disabled children and their parents have been improved;
personal budgets for parents of disabled children and those with SEN so they can choose which
services best suit the needs of their children;
partnership between all local services and agencies working together to help disabled children and
those with SEN;
improved commissioning, particularly through links to health reforms;
the role of voluntary and community sector organisations and parents in a new system; and
the cost of reform.
Pathfinders will also test some optional elements, such as:
whether a national funding framework would help parents understand what level of funding is available
to support their child’s needs;
better support to help parents through the process;
support to vulnerable children through the new process; and
the impact of reforms on children aged 16 to 25, or children in the early years.
22nd September – Ofsted: Leadership of more than one school report
Ofsted has published a report which evaluates the impact, structure and practice of federated leadership
arrangements on pupils’ education in a small sample of established school federations. Within federations,
the leadership and governance arrangements of more than one school are shared. The survey considered
the reasons for federating, the barriers encountered and the features of successful federation leadership.
Key findings include:
teaching and learning, achievement and behaviour had improved in all 10 of the federations visited
where schools previously judged by inspection to be weak had been federated with a more successful
school;
one major advantage of federation governance was the improvement in the governance of weaker
schools as a result of having shared arrangements;
in all six federations where the federated arrangements enabled pupils to transfer from one phase to
another, academic transition was greatly enhanced by a common approach to teaching, learning and
assessment between schools; and
in all the federations visited, effective leadership was critical to their success in building good capacity
for sustained improvement.
Trafford, Oldham/Rochdale, Manchester, Wigan, Gateshead, Hartlepool and Darlington, Calderdale, and
North Yorkshire.
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12th September – Schools given freedom from rules to have control over school day
All schools are now able to vary their school day to benefit their pupils. Up until this September, if a local
authority maintained school wanted to change its lunchtime, for example, by five minutes or extend its
school hours, it had to go through a process which in some cases took up to three months. Foundation,
foundation special, voluntary aided schools and academies were free from these regulations and so could
already vary their school day. Under the changes, which came into effect on 1 September 2011, the same
freedoms are now extended to local authority maintained schools.
Schools will still be expected to consult and to take account of the views of all interested parties before they
implement any changes to the school day and will be advised to serve ‘reasonable notice’ on their local
authority, parents, pupils and staff.
19th September – National Citizen Service 2012 providers announced
Nick Hurd, minister for civil society has announced the nineteen4 service providers which have been
selected to run National Citizen Service (NCS) pilots in 2012. The minister stated that that up to 30,000
16-year-olds will be able to participate in the scheme next year, a three-fold increase on the number of
places in 2011.
NCS aims to promote a more cohesive, responsible and engaged society by bringing young people from
different backgrounds together to make a difference in their communities. It is a voluntary programme for
16-year-olds which focuses on their personal and social development and which includes a range of
activities, from away-from-home residentials to a self-designed social action project. Further providers are
still to be announced.
15th September – DfE: Benchmarking Tables of Local Authority Planned
Expenditure 2011-12
DfE has published benchmarking data on each local authority's planned expenditure on education in a
format which enables comparison between authorities. The data includes:
net and gross per capita expenditure for pupils aged 3-19;
year-on-year changes for a range of expenditure categories from 2010-11 to 2011-12 from both the LA
and the schools budget tables; and
additional information including the range of information on the Dedicated Schools Grant, individual
schools budget, central expenditure within the schools budget, application of the minimum funding
guarantee, expenditure devolved to schools, and hourly spend on free entitlement. A per capita
breakdown for a selection of expenditure lines of LA budget tables, divided through by relevant
pupil/population figures is also provided. Included for the first time is a measure of the hourly spend on
free entitlement, aggregated from the school budget tables.
4
Bolton Lads and Girls Club; Catch22 NCS Partnership; Changemakers; Connexions Cumbria Ltd; Envision; Future
Foundations Training Ltd; Global Action Plan; Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade; Lincolnshire & Rutland Education
Business Partnership; New College; Nottingham Petroc (formerly North Devon College and East Devon College); Safe
in Tees Valley Ltd with Hartlepool Borough Council; Salford Foundation; The Challenge Network; The Football League
Trust; The University of the First Age, The National Young Volunteers Service and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy
Trust; NCS South West Consortium led by Young Devon; and Your Consortium Ltd (North Yorkshire).
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26th September – AoC commissioned research on post-GCSE education choices
In conjunction with Colleges Week (26th September – 2nd October), Loudhouse has published an
Association of Colleges (AoC) commissioned report on young people’s post-GCSE education choices. The
research found that while 63% of young people are able to name A-Levels as a post-GCSE qualification,
very few can name any of the other choices available. Other key findings include:
7% of pupils are able to name Apprenticeships as a post-GCSE qualification; 26% of pupils are able to
name NVQs; 19% of pupils are able to name BTECs; 9% of pupils are able to name Diplomas; and 3%
of pupils are able to name Foundation learning courses;
pupils feel that the advice they receive from their parents about the options available to them after their
GCSEs is more useful than that which they receive from teachers or careers advisors; and
69% of pupils are confident they have enough information to achieve their post-GCSE goals, and 89%
are confident they have taken the right GCSEs to achieve these goals.
26th September – Young people’s and parents’ views of vocational education and
careers guidance
The City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development (CSD) commissioned Chrysalis Research to conduct
research into young people’s and parents’ views of vocational education, and the role of information, advice
and guidance (IAG) on influencing education and career choices.5 The final report has been published and
key findings include evidence that suggests:
awareness of vocational qualifications is high, however parents are less confident offering information
and advice about vocational options than about general qualifications; and
the quantitative and qualitative findings suggest that parents and teachers did not challenge young
people’s perceptions of vocational qualifications. As a result, relatively few young people taking general
qualifications had actively considered vocational options.
31st August – NatCen research on the English Baccalaureate and GCSE choices
DfE, through the Centre for the Analysis of Youth Transitions (CAYT), commissioned the National Centre
for Social Research (NatCen) to undertake a survey to assess the effects of the English Baccalaureate
(EBacc) on secondary schools in England. The survey was undertaken in June and July 2011. Key
findings include:
just over half of the schools taking part in the survey (52%) said that the EBacc had influenced their
curriculum offer, and most schools (88%) had provided information or advice on EBacc to
parents/carers and to pupils; and
a higher proportion of pupils are choosing to take EBacc subjects. Among Year 10 pupils, on average,
33% had selected GCSE subjects that, if passed at ‘C’ or above, would lead to them achieving the
EBacc. For Year 9 pupils, this stands at 47%.
5
The research explored themes identified during an earlier, exploratory study by CSD and Nottingham Trent
University of young people’s experience of vocational education, Atkins, Flint and Oldfield (2011), ‘Practical matters:
what young people think of vocational education in England’, Nottingham Trent University.
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5th September – £2 million scholarship scheme to support teacher development
The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) is seeking applications from existing teachers
for the new national scholarship fund by 30 September.
The scholarship fund will support scholarly professional development, programmes and activities that
strengthen subject or special educational needs (SEN) knowledge and skills, giving teachers the
opportunity to ‘renew their passion for teaching and enhance their own career opportunities’.
The new fund is also intended to develop a culture of professional development where teachers are
supported to progress further academically and deepen their subject knowledge. The scheme is open to all
teachers in England with qualified teacher status (QTS) who are currently employed in eligible schools. The
scheme focuses on four main priority areas; maths, English, science and SEN. The value of each award
will vary depending on the type of activity funded, but the maximum scholarship value is £3,500.
The deadline for applications is 30th September 2011.
Higher Education
15th September – HEFCE research: UK universities contribute £3 billion to economic
growth
Analysis by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) of the tenth annual Higher
Education Business and Community Interaction survey reports that the total value of UK knowledge
exchange increased by 4 per cent from £2.97 billion in 2008-09 to £3.09 billion in 2009-10.
The analysis ‘shows encouraging signs of the rising value of UK knowledge exchange’. This is
demonstrated by increases in the volume of collaborative research and income from turning ideas into new
products and services. Although there are clear signs of the recent economic contraction (especially in
spending by large businesses), spending by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on research,
consultancy, and other services provided by universities is growing. Key findings include:
in 2009-10 273 new businesses were set up based on the world-class research carried out by UK
universities making the total number of active spin-offs 1,340; these companies employed around
17,000 people and turned over nearly £1.8 billion during the year;
UK universities formed one new company per £23 million of research funding during 2009-10. This far
exceeds the record of US universities (one new company per £56 million);
over 2,000 graduates established new enterprises to capitalise on the knowledge and experience
gained whilst studying; and
the direct application of knowledge to solving problems in the public and private sectors also increased,
with collaborative research increasing by 2 per cent and contract research by 5 per cent.
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Local Government and Wider Public Sector
14th September – Evaluation of the Family and Young Carer Pathfinders Programme
York Consulting was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, now the DfE, to
conduct an evaluation of the Family Pathfinder programme announced in the Children’s Plan (2007). The
programme aimed to develop and test the effectiveness of intensive, family focused approaches to
addressing the needs of families who face multiple and complex problems. This evaluation has now been
published and examines the various models of support, their impact on families and services, and the
broader economic implications. Key findings include:
the evidence suggests that intensive, family focused support resulted in a significant improvement in
outcomes for nearly half (46%) of the families supported by the Family Pathfinders and nearly a third
(31%) of the families supported by the Young Carer Pathfinders. These families had a reduction in their
assessed level of need between entry and exit (i.e. from statutory to specialist or targeted level
services) and experienced a reduction in both the range and severity of risk factors impacting on family
life;
the proportion of families who experienced an increase in their assessed level of need was similar
across the two types of Pathfinder, with around 13% showing an escalation in need. This was either
because additional, previously undiagnosed needs were identified by Pathfinder staff during the course
of assessment that required more specialist support (e.g. child protection concerns); or because
families did not engage with the support provided; and
the Pathfinders generated net programme benefits. A conservative assessment of the return on
investment indicates that for every £1 spent, the Family Pathfinders have generated a financial return of
£1.90 from the avoidance of families experiencing negative outcomes. The comparable figure for the
Young Carer Pathfinders was £1.89.
13th September – LBRO research: the citizen in regulation
The Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO) has published research which looks at the concepts of citizen
involvement, co-production and co-regulation in local regulation. It aims to understand the extent to which
citizens can be brought into the process of regulation, especially at local level, and how such participation
can be achieved. The summative points conclude that co-regulation:
at its most basic entails sharing regulatory responsibilities between the state and regulatees;
combines aspects of both statutory regulation and self-regulation. However, unlike voluntary selfregulation by, for example, trade bodies, co-regulation operates within a legislative framework which
empowers the regulator to take action in cases of non-compliance;
may enhance regime legitimacy – by demonstrating citizens are incorporated into the decision-making
process, and can lower compliance costs – by demonstrating regulatees are also involved;
relies on high levels of trust being generated and maintained between regulator, regulatees and
citizens;
should not treat citizens as experts. Their role in such a participative process is as citizens, to express
their aspirations, values and concerns; and
may focus on communication, deliberation and participation between regulator, regulatees, citizens and
consumers, and government, with the regulator managing the regulatory process as an ‘equilibrator’.
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However, this activity may sit alongside a wider mutual monitoring process whereby regulatees, citizens
and regulator each monitor the actions of the others, as co-productive partners, for example, by
monitoring service levels (TripAdvisor 2011) or standards (FoodVision 2011).
7th September – £10m fund to back Big Society innovators opened
Nick Hurd, minister for civil society has announced the opening of a new £10million fund to find and back
innovative new ideas for increasing volunteering and charitable giving.
The Innovation in Giving Fund was first announced in the Giving White Paper published in May and forms
part of a £34million package to increase levels of social action. The Innovation in Giving Fund will be
managed by the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and the government is
particularly keen to see ideas that focus on:
reciprocity: ideas that use reciprocity or exchange to stimulate civic action, including complementary
currencies and points or reward based systems;
pro bono: new ways of harnessing people’s professional or corporate skills to put them to good use;
donations: innovations that increase the number of people making donations; and
sharing: ideas that enable sharing of previously hidden resources and assets, particularly where that
can be shown to build social capital.
22nd September – Citizenship Survey: April 2010 – March 2011
The latest National Statistics from the Citizenship Survey conducted by Communities and Local
Government have been published. The release includes data covering influencing decisions, volunteering,
community cohesion, fear of crime, racial and religious prejudice, discrimination and attitudes toward
violent extremism. Key findings include:
in 2010-11, 38 per cent of respondents felt they could influence decisions in their local area. However, a
higher proportion of people (74 per cent) said it was important for them to be able to influence local
decision making, and 44 per cent of people said they would like to be more involved in decisions made
by Councils affecting their local area;
thirty-four per cent of people said that they had engaged in civic participation at least once in the 12
months prior to the interview. This figure was unchanged from 2009-10 but lower than in any year
before then (between 38 per cent and 39 per cent);
twenty-five per cent of people reported that they volunteered formally at least once a month in 2010-11,
a lower rate than at any point between 2001 and 2007-08 (when it ranged between 27 per cent and 29
per cent), but unchanged from 2008-09 and 2009-10 levels; and
in 2010-11, 86 per cent of people thought their community was cohesive, agreeing that their local area
was a place where people from different backgrounds got on well together. The level was higher than
all previous years.
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22nd September – A study of participatory budgeting in England: final report
DCLG has published a report presenting the findings on the costs of participatory budgeting6 (PB)
processes, what works in the operation of participatory processes and the results and outcomes achieved
by the process. There are a number of findings including:
good decision-making processes need to be followed by the delivery of good projects. In other words,
PB works as part of a package of community engagement and empowerment; but in order for
everyone’s confidence in the approach to be maintained, those who receive funds must do what they
said they were going to do, when they said they were going to do it;
PB could attract additional funds into deprived areas by providing an effective means of distributing
resources that funders felt confident they could work with;
PB may improve individuals’ and organisations’ self-confidence in tackling neighbourhood issues and in
negotiating with public sector organisations; and
PB may increase turnout at elections, in some cases, where increased engagement in the political
process was an objective of the Participatory Budgeting project.
Nick Hurd also announced that the Social Investment Business has been appointed to run the £24million
Social Action Fund – also announced in the Giving White Paper. This fund will aim to support more proven
models to help people at all stages of life get more involved in their communities, reach out to people who
don’t volunteer and build on the momentum of major events including the Olympics and the Diamond
Jubilee.
1st September – Grant Shapps: Tenants to be trained to take control of their
neighbourhoods post-riots
Housing minister, Grant Shapps has announced that a registered charity The National Communities
Resource Centre at Trafford Hall has been awarded £535,000 ‘to deliver training and support to empower
tenants to set up groups to lead on the management of their social housing’. The training will focus on
developing the skills and confidence of tenants to take positive local action to tackle problems that arise in
their area. It is expected to deliver:
at least 1,500 social tenants trained to sit on tenant panels;
at least eight different training courses covering a range of subjects - including sitting on tenant panels,
influencing landlords, and sharing information and learning;
seed grants for up to 100 tenants to help them spread learning in their community and kick start local
initiatives; and
opportunities for interested tenants to work towards accredited qualifications, which could help them
onto new career paths.
6
Participatory budgeting directly involves local people in making decisions on the spending priorities for a defined
public budget. This means engaging residents and community groups representative of all parts of the community to
discuss spending priorities, making spending proposals and vote on them, as well as giving local people a role in the
scrutiny and monitoring of the process.
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Grant Shapps said that the training would also help develop the skills and confidence of those who attend,
‘putting real emphasis on social housing as a springboard to help people make better lives for themselves
and their communities’.
15th September – Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 30
November 2010. It has now received royal assent and is now an Act. The Bill covers five distinct policy
areas: police accountability and governance; alcohol licensing; the regulation of protests around Parliament
Square; misuse of drugs; and the issue of arrest warrants in respect of private prosecutions for universal
jurisdiction offences. The bill also includes provisions for:
‘making the police service more accountable to local people’ by replacing police authorities with directly
elected police and crime commissioners from May 2012;
‘restoring the right to non-violent protest around Parliament’ whilst ensuring that Parliament Square
‘remains accessible to all’ by repealing sections 132-138 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act
(SOCPA) 2005 and prohibiting ‘encampments and other disruptive activity’ on Parliament Square; and
amending the process for issuing private arrest warrants for universal jurisdiction offences to ensure
that they are issued only where there is a reasonable prospect of successful prosecution.
13th September – Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries
published
The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is an independent public body, which reviews all
Parliamentary constituency boundaries in England every five years. The BCE has launched a 12-week
consultation on its initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in England.
It is proposed that the number of constituencies in England should be reduced from 533 to 502 and that
every constituency must have an electorate that is no less than 95% and no more than 105% of the UK
electoral quota of 76,641 electors. Under the BCE’s initial proposals 77 of the existing constituencies are
unchanged.
Using the quota, BCE allocated constituencies among the nine regions of England. Within these regions, it
was not always possible to allocate whole numbers of constituencies to individual counties. In such cases,
some local authority areas have been grouped into sub-regions and allocated constituencies within them.
This means that in some instances, BCE has proposed constituencies that cross county or unitary authority
boundaries. The final shape of the new constituency boundaries will be informed by consultation.
All representations will be published in spring 2012 for further comment. Any revisions will be published in
autumn 2012 and may be subject to a further consultation before any final recommendations are made to
Parliament by 1 October 2013.
This consultation will close on 5 December 2011.
15th September – Bill establishes fixed-term Parliaments
Parliament has passed a Bill which provides for general elections to take place every five years in May,
bringing to an end speculation about when an election might be called. The next general election is
scheduled to take place on 7 May 2015.
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Fixed-terms already exist for local government and the devolved legislatures. The Fixed-term Parliaments
Bill has been designed to ensure that the opposition and the incumbent government hold an election on a
set day whatever way the opinions polls are pointing at the time.
The Bill makes provision for elections to be called earlier under only two exceptional circumstances:
at least two thirds of MPs vote for dissolution; or
a Government is unable to secure the confidence of the House of Commons within 14 days of a noconfidence vote. For a no confidence vote, a majority of fifty per cent plus one is required.
The Fixed-term Parliaments Bill will now go forward for Royal Assent when it will formally become an Act.
Equality and Diversity
14th September – Principles for a voluntary approach to gender equality reporting
published
The Home Office has published the Think, Act, Report Framework a paper which sets out the principles
that business, unions, voluntary sector and other partners have agreed to encourage a ‘new voluntary
approach’ to gender equality reporting available to all private and voluntary sector organisations, with a
focus on those with 150 or more employees. The framework suggests that participating organisations work
to ‘think about gender equality, take action and report’ including on:
Narrative: measures that provide particularly useful contextual information:
o
a narrative description; and
o results of employee surveys.
Workforce: measures related to representation, composition and structure of the workforce:
o
representation at different levels by role;
o
measures relating to representation at different pay bands (e.g. <£10k, £10-20k, £20-30k etc.);
o
composition of the workforce as a whole;
o
measures relating to promotion rates by gender;
o
measures relating to uptake of flexible working across the company;
o
maternity returners; and
o
measures relating to representation in different occupational groups.
Pay Measures: measures that directly capture the pay differences between men and women, and
reward measures capturing wider pay and benefits:
o
difference between average basic pay and total average earnings of men and women by grade and
job type;
o
difference between men and women’s starting salaries;
o
reward components at different levels;
o
full-time pay gap;
o
part-time pay gap; and
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31st August – 26th September 2011
overall pay gap.
13th September – Inquiry into disability-related harassment
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published Hidden in plain sight the inquiry’s
final report into disability-related harassment and how well this is currently being addressed by public
authorities. Recommendations include that:
targeted research is undertaken in collaboration with the National Offender Management Service
(NOMS) and local authorities in Scotland to build a clearer picture of perpetrator profiles, motivations
and circumstances and, in particular, to inform prevention and rehabilitation; and
public bodies conduct rigorous evaluation of their response and prevention projects over a three year
time frame so that EHRC can build a shared knowledge of the most effective routes to take to deal with
harassment and reduce its occurrence. All evaluations should then be widely and openly shared so that
all bodies can learn from them.
1st September – Stonewall extends its strategic lobbying to include overseas work
Stonewall, the charity that works for equality and justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals has
announced that the Charity Commission has approved a request to extend its strategic lobbying to include
overseas work. For the first time, Stonewall will be permitted to ‘promote human rights as set out in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent UN conventions throughout the world’.
Voluntary and Community Sector
2nd September – Guidance on local authority work with the voluntary and community
sector
Communities secretary Eric Pickles has published guidance to local authorities on how to protect voluntary
and community groups from disproportionate cuts to their funding. Councils now have one page of
guidance on how to achieve Best Value7 in their areas in terms of cost for local taxpayers, and the wider
social and environmental benefits above and beyond the services they provide.
In deciding how best to fulfill their Best Value Duty, councils are required to consult those using, or likely to
use, a local service. This should include community and voluntary organisations. The guidance proposes
that councils should not pass on larger reductions to their local voluntary and community sectors and small
businesses than they take on themselves. In particular:
those councils looking to reduce or end funding, or any other support to one of these organisations
should give at least three months' notice of the actual reduction to both the organisation involved and
the users of the service they provide;
7
Best Value authorities are under a general Duty of Best Value to ‘make arrangements to secure continuous
improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency
and effectiveness’.
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LSIS Policy Update No. 10
councils should involve and discuss their plans with the organisation and local service users as early as
possible before making any final decisions on the future of the service; and
councils should give organisations, local service users and the wider community the opportunity to offer
options for reshaping and reducing the costs of the services provided.
Central government departments have also signed up to these same principles.
Devolved Administrations
21st September – Scottish Spending Review 2011
The Scottish Spending Review 2011 has been published. Over three quarters of a billion pounds will be
transferred from resource expenditure into the capital investment programme to support economic
recovery. Scottish public spending plans for the next three financial years target investment to ‘increase
sustainable economic growth and transform public services’. Plans include:
focusing on accelerating economic recovery to create jobs by switching over three quarters of a billion
pounds from resource spending to support capital projects up to 2014-15;
investing in the low carbon economy to cut emissions and create new jobs;
implementing a shift to preventative spending with specific funding of £500 million over the next three
years to encourage joint working across the public sector in adult social care, early years and tackling
re-offending;
freezing basic pay for 2012-13, ‘to protect employment and continue the policy of no compulsory
redundancies for those areas under direct Ministerial control’, while paying the uprated Scottish Living
Wage of £7.20 an hour and ensuring that any employee earning less than £21,000 continues to receive
at least a £250 rise. Ministers will also be freezing their own pay in 2012-13 for the fourth year running;
delivering 125,000 modern apprenticeships and using public procurement as a lever for job creation by
ensuring that major public contracts deliver new training and apprenticeship opportunities;
introducing a new public health levy to tackle the cost problems associated with alcohol and tobacco
through a business rates supplement paid by large retailers of both tobacco and alcohol from April
2012; and
increasing employee pension contributions for NHS, teachers, police and fire schemes in Scotland, with
in-built protection for the low paid.
Spending plans for education and lifelong learning are as follows:
2011-12
Budget
£m
2012-13
Draft Budget
£m
2013-14
Plans
£m
2014-15
Plans
£m
Learning
177.2
193.2
180.0
172.5
Children & Families
95.5
100.6
96.5
93.0
Employability Skills & Lifelong Learning
244.4
240.4
248.0
244.5
Scottish Further & Higher Education Funding Council
1,570.3
1,577.7
1,590.0
1,596.7
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LSIS Policy Update No. 10
Higher Education Student Support
516.6
558.0
744.4
854.6
Total
2,604.0
2,669.9
2,858.9
2,961.
14th September – Announcement on reform of Scottish post-16 education
The Scottish government has published Putting Learners at the Centre – Delivering our Ambitions for
Post-16 Education a paper which sets out plans for post-16 reform. The proposals, some of which will
lead to legislation in late 2012, encompass the skills, college and university sectors. Proposals include:
ensuring all 16-19 year olds have a place in post-16 education and training, making that commitment for
the first time;
completing the roll-out of Activity Agreements in order to improve access, retention and progression in
learning for our more vulnerable 16/17 year olds;
modernising careers services in line with the Government's Career Information Advice and Guidance
strategy;
developing the apprenticeship programme to deliver a wider range of progression and articulation
opportunities, including higher level technical and graduate apprenticeships;
minimising bureaucracy for employers, particularly Small and Medium-sized Enterprises ( SMEs), and
providers participating in our training programmes;
reviewing the current funding models for training, including how funding can be used to improve
performance; and
considering legislation to create a statutory framework guaranteeing articulation from college to
university – where there is a clear curricular fit.
13th September – Review of teacher employment in Scotland
The group tasked with reviewing the Teachers' Agreement, reached in 2001 following the McCrone Inquiry,
has published its recommendations. Chaired by Professor Gerry McCormac, Principal and ViceChancellor of the University of Stirling, the group’s remit was ‘to review the current arrangements for
teacher employment in Scotland and make recommendations designed to secure improved educational
outcomes for our children and young people’. Key recommendations include:
no increase in class contact time for teachers in Scotland;
increased flexibility in the use of non-contact time over longer periods;
control of the number and grade of promoted posts devolved to schools;
the creation of a revitalised Professional Review and Personal Development system for all teachers;
teacher-led involvement of external experts to contribute to the delivery of the curriculum; and
ending of the Chartered Teacher Scheme.
1st September – Changes to Adult Apprenticeship funding in Northern Ireland
announced
Dr. Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning has announced changes in the future funding for
Adult Apprenticeships (25+ years). Setting the context, the minister said ‘In January 2011, the Department
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for Employment and Learning published initial proposals for its savings plan for 2011-2015 in response to
the proposed budget settlement announced in December 2010. Along with other Departments, my
Department faces a difficult set of options in this budget period and one proposal put forward as part of this
consultation was the complete removal of funding for adult apprenticeships’.
Stressing the importance of apprenticeships to the economy, the minister went on to say ‘Apprenticeships
have a key role to play by developing individual skills and strengthening the regional economy. There is no
doubt that apprenticeships at all levels provide an excellent return on investment for individuals, employers
and Government. Recent UK research has found that the return to each £1 of public funding produces a
net public benefit of £16 for a Level 2 apprenticeship and £17 for Level 3’.
Announcing his decision the minister said ‘I have decided that, rather than discontinue funding for adult
apprenticeships, we will continue to fund all adults in all skill areas from the end of September 2011 and
expect this to be delivered within 50% of the current budget.
‘Adults generally complete their apprenticeship training more quickly than their younger counterparts,
suggesting a difference in the training needs of the experienced worker as opposed to those entering the
labour market for the first time.
‘This is an interim position to allow a review to be completed which will inform the future policy and funding
arrangements for adult learning, including adult apprenticeships. The review is currently underway and my
intention is to establish a final policy and funding position during 2012-2013.’
International
13th September – Education trends report highlights need for effective funding for
schools and universities
The 2011 edition of Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators has been published. It provides a range of
comparable indicators on education systems which show who participates in education, how much is spent
on it, and how education systems operate. The report also illustrates a wide range of educational
outcomes, comparing, for example, student performance in key subjects and the impact of education on
earnings and on adults’ chances of employment.
The report shows that EU countries perform near the OECD average, but with strong differences between
them.
The areas where EU countries perform better on average than the OECD as a whole are:
early childhood education (3-4 years old): EU 76%, OECD 70%;
pupils graduating from upper secondary education: EU 85%, OECD 82%;
percentage of young people not in education and training and not employed ("NEETs"): EU 6.4%,
OECD 8.6%; and
class size and student-teacher ratios in schools.
The areas where the OECD as a whole outperforms the EU countries are:
adults (25-64) who have graduated from higher education: EU 27%, OECD 30%;
vocational education graduates at tertiary level: EU 8%, OECD 10%;
expenditure per student at tertiary level: EU $13 000, OECD $13 700; and
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private spending on tertiary education institutions: EU 0.2%, OECD 0.5%.
The publication is arranged according to the following chapters:
the output of educational institutions and the impact of learning;
financial and human resources invested in education;
access to education, participation and progression; and
the learning environment and organisation of schools.
New Faces
12th September – Metropolitan police commissioner announced
Home secretary, Teresa May, has announced that Bernard Hogan-Howe will be the new Commissioner of
the Metropolitan Police Service. Her Majesty the Queen has granted Royal Approval to the appointment.
The home secretary said 'as you would expect for such a prestigious position, we had an exceptional field
of candidates, but Bernard Hogan-Howe impressed us all with his vision for the Metropolitan Police, his
commitment to cutting crime and the important work he has done for the public. The government’s reforms
are transforming the police in this country and Bernard Hogan-Howe has the skills and experience needed
to ensure the nation’s biggest force is at the forefront of this change’.
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Contact the LSIS policy team
This policy update has been prepared by Angela Nartey, policy research officer, LSIS. Your comments are
welcome – please contact Angela by email on angela.nartey@LSIS.org.uk.
Caroline Mager, Executive Director, Policy, Research and Communications
Caroline.Mager@LSIS.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7420 5166
Jenny Williams, Head of Policy
Jenny.Williams@LSIS.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7420 5164
Angela Nartey, Policy Research Officer
Angela.Nartey@LSIS.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7420 5162
Anyone wishing to arrange a free subscription to these Policy Updates, or the associated Brief Guides,
should subscribe at www.lsis.org.uk/policyupdates
© LSIS September 2011
Published by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS).
The purpose of these guides is to stimulate discussion and debate. While every effort has been made to
ensure the information contained within this publication is correct, neither the publisher nor the authors or
their companies accept any liability for any errors or omissions.
The text in this document may be reproduced free of charge in any format or media without requiring
specific permission, on condition that the source is acknowledged, that the material is not used in a
derogatory manner or in misleading context and that the findings are not misrepresented.
24