Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Rejected
Broaden devolution by default to include 16-19 education and training in the Devolution Bill.
Recommendation
The Government should broaden its commitment to “devolution by default” by devolving appropriate 16–19 education and training, skills programmes and funding streams to each Strategic Authority. We recommend that the 91 Government amends the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to make provision for the devolution of 16–19 education and training. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42)
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the recommendation to devolve 16-19 education and training, stating it is important to maintain a consistent national offer to promote social mobility, but commits to working with Mayoral Strategic Authorities on aligning priorities.
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.