See the links below for more details of the State Opening of Parliament and the Queen's Speech:
http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/role/parliament_crown/stateopening.cfm
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Further Education Bill
The Government will bring forward a Further Education Bill in the coming Parliament, and we expect that it will emphasise relationships between providers, colleges and employers.
The legislation will expand on the white paper "Raising Skills and Improving Life Chances", published in March 2006:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/furthereducation/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.view&CategoryID=21
Once it has been published, the Bill will be discussed by the CES’ 14-19 working group and, as with all major consultations, the CES will make a formal response to the Government.
We expect that high performing FE colleges will gain freedoms similar to those enjoyed by schools by virtue of the Education and Inspections Act (2006). This will encourage college federations, collaborative partnerships and trusts.
The Bill will also introduce a new entitlement to free tuition and support to help 19-25 year olds gain technician, associate professional and skilled trades qualifications at level three, with a view to extending this entitlement to programmes at foundation level.
Work-based training is expected to increase.
Recent funding for the FE sector includes: £25m (2007-8) to fund a 19-25 level three entitlement; £11m for an adult learning grant; £11m for new recruitment and training programmes for staff; £20m to address skills and training obstacles faced by women.
