Learning and Skills Council

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. Its goal is to improve the skills of young people and adults, and to make sure England has a workforce that is of world-class standards.

Its mission is to raise participation and attainment through high-quality education and training, which puts learners first; and its vision is that by 2010, young people and adults in England will have the knowledge and skills matching the best in the world.

Context

The LSC is a non-departmental public body. It was established under the Learning and Skills Act 2000 and became fully operational in April 2001, replacing the Further Education Funding Council and the 72 training and enterprise councils. It was set up in response to the white paper Learning to Succeed (1999).

This set out a vision in which all individuals, irrespective of their background or education levels, would be given the chance to learn new skills, fulfil their potential, and improve the quality of their lives at home and at work. Businesses would be able to recruit trained, talented and motivated staff in order to complete more effectively and more confidently; skills shortages would be narrowed; and employers could plan ahead more effectively.

What does it do?

The LSC is responsible for planning and funding all academic and vocational education and training for over 16-year-olds up to, but not including, higher education. This includes:

• Further education
• Work-based training for young people
• School sixth form provision
• Workforce development
• Adult and community learning
• Information, advice and guidance for adults
• Education business links

The LSC works with a wide range of stakeholders and partners to understand, define and meet training and education needs. Stakeholders include national organisations such as the Confederation of British Industry, Trades Union Congress, Investors in People UK, Connexions, Business Links, Jobcentre Plus, Sector Skills Councils, the Association of Colleges, as well as voluntary organisations and large employers.

Actual provision is delivered through a variety of providers, including school sixth forms and sixth-form colleges, general further education colleges and private training providers. The LSC has a budget of more than £10 billion in 2005/06.

What are its priorities, targets and main initiatives?

The LSC has been set a number of overarching objectives by government. They are:

• To raise participation and achievement among young people
• To increase adults' demand for learning
• To maximise the contribution of education/training to economic performance
• To raise standards of learning 
• To provide equal access to learning opportunities
• To improve the sector's effectiveness and efficiency

Yearly priorities and targets are set by the government. These include targets for increasing the number of young people achieving at levels 2 and 3, and for tackling the adult skills gap. The actions that will be taken by the LSC to achieve their 2005/06 priorities are organised under six key headings

1. Make learning demand-led so that it better meets the needs of employers, young people and adults
2. Ensure all 14-19-year-olds have access to high quality, relevant learning opportunities
3. Transform FE so it attracts and stimulates more business investment in training and skills development
4. Strengthen the LSC's role in economic development so as to provide the skills needed to help all individuals into jobs
5. Strengthen the LSC's capacity to work effectively at a regional level
6. Improve the skills of public service workers

Ensuring that all 14-19-year-olds have access to high-quality, relevant learning opportunities will be achieved by guaranteeing all 16-18-year-olds suitable learning opportunities, widening the choice of vocational routes for young people, increasing the number of apprenticeships, and encouraging more collaboration between training providers and young people.

Its vast remit means that the LSC is also involved in taking forward a very wide range of strategies, initiatives and programmes with many partner organisations. These are just a few examples:

• Life Skills Programme
  A programme to help to young people who need additional support to enter mainstream learning
• Education Business Links
  a programme to provide work experience for Key Stage 4 pupils, and professional development places with employers for teachers, to help enhance teachers' understanding of the world of work
• Increasing Flexibility Programme
  Brings school-aged pupils into a post-16 learning environment to enhance their vocational opportunities

What is its structure?

The LSC operates through a national office in Coventry, and a network of 47 local LSCs. Executive management of the LSC is the responsibility of the chief executive, who is supported by a group of senior managers (the management group).

The LSC also has 10 regional directors (including two for London). Each works with a range of regional partners, including organisations such as Regional Development Agencies. They are also responsible for allocating budgets and targets to the local LSCs within their region; and directly manage one local LSC.

The LSC also has a 16-strong national council. Members are appointed by the Secretary of State, and representatives are drawn from a range of stakeholder groups, including employers, trade unions, providers, community groups and the media.

Expert committees

The national council is advised by three expert committees: the Young People's Learning Committee, the Adult Learning Committee, and the Equality and Diversity Committee. The Adult and Young People's Learning Committees advise the LSC on achievement of the national learning targets, including strategies for increasing participation and attainment levels.

The committees also have close links with a range of other organisations, including Jobcentre plus, Connexions, schools, colleges, and local authorities, as well as with employers and learners.

Local LSCs

Most of the LSC's executive staff are based in its 47 local LSCs. The organisation of local councils varies according to local circumstances, but local LSCs maintain grass-roots contact with employers, local authorities and the colleges, schools and other organisations that deliver education and training.

It is at the local level that the relationship between learners, employers, training providers and local communities are developed, budgets deployed and contracts managed. Each local LSC has a board of up to 14 members; and like the national council, they include representatives from employers, learning providers and community groups.

Each local LSC has an executive director who reports directly to the regional director, who in turn reports to the chief executive. All local LSCs produce annual plans giving details of their budget and operations.