I am very glad to be asked to contribute a column to FE News.  It seems good timing with the significant changes in prospect.

Last week saw the announcement in the White Paper that the Government intends to replace the Young People’s Learning Agency from April 2012 with the Education Funding Agency (EFA) as an executive agency of the Department, with responsibility as the funding agency for children and young people, funding all institutions that are not maintained by local authorities.  With the increasing number of autonomous institutions, the role of the Education Funding Agency will be larger than the current role of the YPLA

My Chair, Les Walton, and I are extremely pleased with the decision to expand the YPLA’s remit by creating the new agency.  We are also both very happy to be leading the transition for the YPLA over the next 18 months. 

Readers are probably familiar with the background to the White Paper and the review of quangos and arm’s length bodies which has been going on since the General Election.  The direction of travel on this review has been clear – Ministers have planned to take back to themselves the direct accountability for decisions which have over previous administrations been placed with other agencies.

I have been extremely pleased with the regard that the Secretary of State and our partners have for the YPLA, the strong messages of support we have received for the work we do and the impact we have made since we were established in April this year.  The YPLA will form the core of the new funding agency, building on what we have achieved this year and the Secretary of State has confirmed his appreciation of the work of the YPLA in a letter to Les Walton.

While the precise role and remit of the new Agency remains to be confirmed, the YPLA’s responsibilities for 16-19 provision, academies and learners with learning difficulties and disabilities will be at the heart of its remit. YPLA staff are recognised as being expert in funding policy, data and relationship management and this will be essential for the success of the Education Funding Agency.

YPLA business will continue as planned until the Education Funding Agency is established.  Immediate priorities are to manage the funding allocations for 16-19 and for academies for the 2011/12 academic year over the next four months, to support the increasing number of academies and to work with local authorities to develop new arrangements to provide better support for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities. 

It goes without saying that we will continue to work closely with all our partners.  I want to make sure that everyone continues to receive the level of service that they have come to expect from the YPLA. I have absolutely no doubt that along with the Board, our staff will embrace change with the continued enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated since our establishment this April and I look forward to working with them during this next change in our country’s education system.

Peter Lauener is chief executive of the Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA)