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Select Committee · Education Committee

Further Education and Skills

Status: Closed Opened: 29 Jan 2025 Closed: 30 Jan 2026 36 recommendations 32 conclusions 1 report

The further education sector is currently navigating a series of reforms and challenges. In this inquiry the Education Committee will explore these issues and other pressures currently facing the further education sector, including the pay gap between school and college teachers, maths and English GCSE resits, students’ mental health. Read the call for evidence

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
6th Report - Further Education and Skills HC 666 23 Sep 2025 68 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
4 Conclusion 6th Report - Further Education and Skil… Deferred

Skills England Chief Executive Officer role is too junior, limiting influence across government.

We have heard serious concerns that the role of Chief Executive Officer at Skills England is too junior within the civil service hierarchy. The director- level status given to the holders of that position may limit their ability to influence those working across Government and undermine the authority they need … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states that the effectiveness of Skills England's leadership structure will be considered as part of a broader review of the agency, which was previously committed to within 18-24 months of its establishment.
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Department for Education
5 Recommendation 6th Report - Further Education and Skil… Deferred

Review and regrade Skills England Chief Executive Officer status by June 2026 for greater seniority.

We recommend that the Department for Education reviews the status of Skills England’s Chief Executive Officers in June 2026—twelve months after Skills England became fully operational—to ensure they have been given the right level of seniority and that they have been able to perform their cross-departmental duties freely and effectively. … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government defers the specific review of CEO seniority, stating it will be considered as part of a broader, already planned review of Skills England within 18-24 months of its establishment.
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Department for Education
10 Recommendation 6th Report - Further Education and Skil… Deferred

Utilise trailblazer model to pilot comprehensive skills devolution programme and report findings.

The Government should consider utilising the trailblazer model to pilot a more comprehensive skills devolution programme and report back to the Committee. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43)

Government response AI summary
The government states the recommendation is under review and reiterates its ambition for devolved powers, noting its commitment to continue piloting arrangements with Established Mayoral Authorities to inform further devolution frameworks, citing the devolution of Construction Skills Package funding as an example.
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Department for Education
67 Recommendation 6th Report - Further Education and Skil… Deferred

Increase adult education and skills funding to meet demand and align with national missions

Funding for adult education and skills must increase to meet demand and to ensure that those over the age of 19 are able to participate in, and benefit from, the Government’s national missions. The Government must assess demand for adult education and increase funding over the period of the current … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the recommendation is 'UNDER REVIEW,' deferring to Skills England to provide data and analysis to inform future funding decisions, while clarifying that major funding decisions remain with government ministers.
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Department for Education

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
24 Jun 2025 Julia Kinniburgh · Department for Education, The Rt Hon. the Baroness Smith of Malvern · Department for Education View ↗
3 Jun 2025 Clare Howard · Natspec, David Gaughan · West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Denise Rawls · The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), Dr Emily Tanner · Nuffield Foundation, Dr Fiona Aldridge · The Skills Federation, Dr Susan Pember CBE · HOLEX, Jane Gratton · British Chambers of Commerce, Qasim Hussain · National Union of Students View ↗
23 Apr 2025 Ben Rowland · Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP), Dr Katerina Kolyva · Education and Training Foundation (ETF), Emily Rock · Association of Apprentices, Jane Hadfield · NHS England, Phil Smith CBE · Skills England, Sarah Maclean CBE · Skills England, Sir David Bell · Skills England, Tessa Griffiths CBE · Skills England View ↗
25 Mar 2025 Alice Gardner · Edge Foundation, Bill Watkin CBE · Sixth Form Colleges Association, Darren Hankey · Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), David Hughes CBE · Association of Colleges, David Robinson · Education Policy Institute, Jo Grady · University College Union (UCU), Mr Imran Tahir · Institute for Fiscal Studies, Robert Nitsch CBE · Federation of Awarding Bodies View ↗

Who gave evidence

26 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alice Gardner · Chief Executive Edge Foundation 1
Ben Rowland · Chief Executive Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) 1
Bill Watkin CBE · Chief Executive Sixth Form Colleges Association 1
Clare Howard · CEO Natspec 1
Darren Hankey · Principal and CEO of Hartlepool College of Furthe… Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) 1
David Gaughan · Head of Employer Services West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) 1
David Hughes CBE · Chief Executive Association of Colleges 1
David Robinson · Director of Post 16 and Skills Education Policy Institute 1
Denise Rawls · Executive Director The National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) 1
Dr Emily Tanner · Programme Head for Post-14 Education and Skills Nuffield Foundation 1
Dr Fiona Aldridge · Chief Executive Officer The Skills Federation 1
Dr Katerina Kolyva · Chief Executive Education and Training Foundation (ETF) 1
Dr Susan Pember CBE · Policy Advisor HOLEX 1
Emily Rock · Chief Executive Association of Apprentices 1
Jane Gratton · Head of People Policy British Chambers of Commerce 1
Jane Hadfield · Co-Chair, The St Martin’s Group and National Lead… NHS England 1
Jo Grady · General Secretary University College Union (UCU) 1
Julia Kinniburgh · Director General for Skills Department for Education 1
Mr Imran Tahir · Research Economist Institute for Fiscal Studies 1
Phil Smith CBE · Chair Skills England 1
Qasim Hussain · Vice President (Further Education) National Union of Students 1
Robert Nitsch CBE · Chief Executive Federation of Awarding Bodies 1
Sarah Maclean CBE · Chief Executive Officer Skills England 1
Sir David Bell · Vice Chair Skills England 1
Tessa Griffiths CBE · Joint CEO Skills England 1
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Smith of Malvern · Minister for Skills Department for Education 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
3 Feb 2026 To cttee Letter from Minister for Skills on Further Education ITE Reform, dated 26.01.26