Further Education in Wales ….
present and future
Mark Jones
Principal Gower College Swansea
Chair - ColegauCymru
Further Education in Wales ….
present and future
 What do we mean by Further Education?
 Achievements of the FE sector in recent
years.
 The priorities going forward.
 The risks and challenges to achieving this.
FE Sector
 15 FE colleges and FE institutions.
 10 FE corporations including St David’s Catholic
College.
 3 FE colleges part of university groups.
 2 designated FE institutions (WEA Cymru and
YMCA).
FE colleges and FE institutions in
Wales June 2014
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Bridgend College
Cardiff and Vale College
Coleg Cambria
Coleg Ceredigion
Grŵp Llandrillo Menai
Coleg Gwent
Coleg y Cymoedd
Coleg Sir Gâr
9. Gower College Swansea
10. The College Merthyr Tydfil
11. NPTC Group
12. Pembrokeshire College
13. St David's Catholic College
14. WEA Cymru
15. YMCA Community College
What does Further Education do?
Vocational 16-18
A Levels
Higher Education
Vocational 14-16
Apprenticeships
Traineeships
Jobs Growth Wales
Adult Community Learning
Courses for Employers
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
SLDD Students
International Students - work
….. and much much more
Quality and standards
Impact of Mergers on College Size
Turnover £m
No. Colleges
July 2009
No. Colleges after
mergers Jan 2014
0 - 5
4
1
5 - 10
5
2
10 - 15
2
1
15 - 20
5
0
20 - 25
5
2
25 - 30
2
1
30 - 35
1
0
35 - 40
0
0
40 - 50
0
4
50 - 60
1
2
60+
0
2
Total
25
15
DfES Funding:2007/08 – 2015/16
in cash and real terms
340,000,000
330,000,000
320,000,000
310,000,000
300,000,000
290,000,000
DfES recurrent funding
280,000,000
DfES recurrent funding
if at 2007/08 figures
270,000,000
260,000,000
250,000,000
Post 16 Learner Voice Wales Survey
2014
Completed by 37,917 FE learners (49.1%)

78% of learners rated their college as very
good or good.

81% of learners rated the quality of
teaching and learning as very good or
good.

87% of learners said that their course was
better than or about what they expected.
Other achievements in recent years
 Delivery of a common contract.
 High performance e.g. progress on to Oxbridge.
 Support for the new HE Bill.
 Responding effectively to Welsh Government
policies and strategies.
Quotations
“I witnessed a flexible and cohesive FE sector determined to deliver”.
Huw Lewis
Minister for Education & Skills
Priorities Letter May 2014
“The FE sector in Wales has been instrumental in delivering a range
of key policies for the Welsh Government and will continue to play a
key part in meeting the education and skills needs of the
population.”
“Time and again the sector has proved that it is signed up for
change. It demonstrates to the rest of the UK what the Welsh FE
sector can achieve when it puts its mind to something.”
Ken Skates
Deputy Minister for Skills & Technology
Colegau Cymru Conference May 2014
Priorities for the FE Sector 2015/16
1. Tackling poverty agenda.
2. Literacy and numeracy.
3. Learner progression and support.
4. Employer engagement and enterprise.
5. Developing Welsh medium provision.
Other Priorities 2015/16
 Ensure the continued delivery of Adult
Community Learning.
 Develop the use of e-learning.
 Deliver further efficiency gains through working
collaboratively.
 Work with Regional Education Consortia.
 Add value to the culture of transparency and
collaboration in the post 16 sector.
Also on “the to do list” for FE
Colleges
 Continue to improve quality outcomes.
 Continue to balance the budget.
 Develop new and innovative partnerships.
 Improve data on destinations of FE students.
 Continue to develop a Welsh ethos – to
complement the additional Welsh medium
provision.
Risks and Challenges
Funding




Central funding.
Pay parity.
Co-investment.
Transport
Increasing Demand




Literacy/Numeracy.
SLDD.
ACL.
Demographics.
15 – 19 Population of Wales 2010 - 2030
15 - 19 Population of Wales 2010 - 2030
200.000
195.000
190.000
185.000
15-19
180.000
175.000
170.000
165.000
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
20 + Population of Wales 2010 - 2030
20+ Population of Wales 2010 - 2030
2,590.000
2,540.000
2,490.000
2,440.000
20+
2,390.000
2,340.000
2,290.000
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
Risks and Challenges (cont’d)
Partnerships
 Schools.
 Local Authorities.
 Higher Education Institutions
Further Sector Changes
 Qualifications.
 Higher Education Review.
 Williams Report.
Further Education in Wales ….
present and future
Mark Jones
Principal Gower College Swansea
Chair - ColegauCymru