Mind the gap: Lords economics committee to explore further and higher education funding
How big is the funding gap between further education colleges and universities? Do colleges take account of what skills are needed locally when designing courses? Are colleges incentivised to provide low-level qualifications? Do school children get enough advice about the options available to them in further and higher education?
These are some of the questions the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee will be asking two panels of witnesses on Tuesday 6 February 2018.
At 3.35pm the Committee will hear from:
- Julian Gravatt, Assistant CEO, Association of Colleges
- Richard Atkins CBE, Further Education Commissioner, Department for Education
- Alun Francis, Principal and Chief Executive, Oldham College.
Questions the Committee is likely to ask them include:
- Should there be parity of funding between further and higher education? How can this be achieved?
- Are there too many qualifications available in the further education sector?
- Will the Government's three million target help improve the quality and quantity of apprenticeships offered?
- How can further education providers ensure that courses are responsive to local demand?
At 4.35pm the Committee will hear from:
- Eileen Milner, Chief Executive and Accounting Officer, Education and Skills Funding Agency
- Sue Husband, Director, National Apprenticeship Service
- Peter Mucklow, Director, Intervention and Young People's Funding Group, Education and Skills Funding Agency.
Questions the Committee is likely to ask them include:
- Why has the number of apprenticeship starts fallen since the start of the apprenticeship levy?
- What will be included in the Government's recently announced review of tertiary education?
- Why are there long delays in approving new apprenticeships?
- Does the current funding and regulatory system incentivise colleges to provide low level qualifications and courses?
These evidence sessions will start at 3.35pm on Tuesday 6 February 2018 in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.
These sessions are part of the Committee's ongoing inquiry into the economics of higher, further and technical education.
