Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Rejected
Government devolution plans for skills are welcomed but exclude 16-19 education and training.
Conclusion
We welcome the Government’s plans to deepen and widen the devolution of skills and employment support in England. Devolving further powers to Strategic Authorities will help to drive growth, encourage the co- ordinated delivery of education and training services across the country, and meet the unique needs of local communities. It is disappointing, however, that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, as introduced, limits the devolution of skills and employment support to those aged 19 and over and does not make provision for the devolution of 16–19 education and training. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that every part of the country benefits from further devolution and that no area is left behind, regardless of its status within the devolution process. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the implicit suggestion to devolve 16-19 education funding, stating it is important to maintain a national, consistently high-quality offer to promote social mobility. It confirms Mayors will continue to feed priorities into DfE's strategic conversations and LSIPs for 16-19 year olds.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
NOT TAKEN FORWARD The government funds the universal education offer up to the age of 18 and provides support to individuals who are furthest from the labour market, to help them re-enter the world of work. It enables young people to choose from a set of high-quality options which will support them into an apprenticeship, into other work, or into additional learning such as higher education or higher technical programmes. As such it is important to maintain a national offer which is consistently high quality across the country and promotes social mobility. That is why 16 to 19 funding has not been devolved. Mayors play a crucial role in ensuring there are clear pathways of progression from education into employment opportunities in the local labour market as well as further learning. Therefore, we are committed to working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities ensuring they have structured opportunities to feed their priorities into DfE’s Annual Strategic Conversations with colleges and, as part of joint ownership of the LSIP model, providing them with the opportunity to ensure the LSIP reflects the opportunities needed for 16–19 year olds to undertake apprenticeships, education and training that lead to good quality employment opportunities.