The Further Education and Training Bill became law at the end of October 2007. The Act is not much changed from the original form and is unlikely to have much immediate impact on schools. The legal establishment of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) regional councils has formalised what was already happening in several areas. Concerning Further Education (FE) colleges, members of the House of Lords have been modestly successful in limiting the originally proposed intervention powers of the LSC in some situations, for example, in cases where dismissal of a member of staff of an FE college may be thought necessary by the LSC. In such cases the LSC (or Ministers in Wales) cannot order a governing body to dismiss a member of staff, but can insist that consideration is given to that possibility. The LSC (or Ministers in Wales) must also give an account of the exercise of its powers of intervention and if necessary revise its policy after consulting appropriately.

Some further limitations are also placed on the new powers for FE colleges to award foundation degrees, and the Secretary of State is required to report four years from the entering into force of these provisions about the effects of the new powers.

Further Education and Training Act 2007:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/ukpga_20070025_en_1 

Peter Irvine

Education Consultant

22nd November 2007