Department for Education departmental plan for post-16 and skills

The Department for Education has set out its objectives and how it will deliver them.

Post-16 and skills

T Levels Deliver T Levels as a gold standard for technical and professional excellence, ensuring our young people can access a world-class education whichever route they choose (supports SDG 4 and 8)

Apprenticeship Reform Continue our ground-breaking reforms to apprenticeships, with quality at the core (supports SDG 4 and 8)

Augar Review Consider the review of post-18 education and funding to make sure that our system is joined up and promotes access and success in all forms of post-18 education – providing real choice, quality and value for money for everyone, as well as delivering the skills our country needs

National Retraining Scheme Develop a national retraining scheme to drive up adult learning and retraining (supports SDG 4 and 8)

Level 3 and Below Qualifications Review Launch the review of qualifications at level 3 and below with extensive public consultation, and design and implement a T Level transition offer

Level 4 and 5 Qualifications Review Scrutinise the quality of technical education at higher levels through a qualifications review, focused on levels 4 and 5 (supports SDG 4)

Improve FE Improve capacity, quality and resilience of the further education sector

Industrial Strategy Work with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, to support the implementation of the Industrial Strategy, by reforming the skills system to deliver skills demanded by employers, and needed to boost productivity (supports SDG 9)

FE Status and Reputation Raise the status of our further education teaching profession

Careers Advice Improve the quality of careers advice and guidance for children, young people and adults so that they are aware of the breadth of opportunities available to them (supports SDG 4)

International Reputation Boost exports by making the most of our international reputation in the provision of higher education and other areas

EdTech Put in place the right conditions for a flourishing education technology sector, supporting innovative ideas in online and offline delivery

Performance:

Quality apprenticeships starts

We will report to Parliament on the progress of our work with, and commitment to, employers on achieving 3 million high-quality apprenticeship starts.

The department has published new figures today (27 Jun) showing that the proportion of 16-18 year olds in education and apprenticeships has increased to 81.3% – the highest since records began 25 years ago.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Anne Milton said:

“I’m pleased that the proportion of 16-18 year olds in education and apprenticeships has increased to 81.3% – the highest since records began 25 years ago.

“We want more young people to have the opportunity to learn new skills, get the jobs they want and build successful careers. Our new T Levels will offer young people high-quality technical courses on a par with the best in the world.

“Our changes to apprenticeships mean they are now longer, higher-quality and with more off-the-job training”.

Source: Further education and skills: March 2019; release schedule: monthly

Overall effectiveness of further education and skills providers at their most recent inspection

Source: Further education and skills: inspection outcomes; release schedule: annually

Percentage of first degree leavers in work or study 6 months after graduation from English higher education institutions

Graduation year	Percentage of first degree leavers in work or study
2016 to 2017	90%
2015 to 2016	90%
2014 to 2015	89%
2013 to 2014	89%
2012 to 2013	88%

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency Higher education leavers statistics: UK, 2016 to 2017; release schedule: annually

Corporate transformation

Our transformation aims
Be user-centered: we know who our users are and meet their needs
Deliver end-to-end: we design and deliver around our users’ needs
Empower yourself and others: we value teams who take initiative and make improvements
Make evidence-based decisions: we use evidence to make effective decisions

Our transformation aims will help us work together to improve and are underpinned by the 3 Civil Service Leadership Statement values:

1. Inspiring
2. Confident, and
3. Empowering

As well as working together to achieve our transformation aims and live our values, we also need to improve our ways of working and our workplace to be a brilliant department in ‘A Brilliant Civil Service’.

People survey engagement score

Year	Engagement score
2018	65%
2017	63%
2016	62%

Percentage of spend that is allocated to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Financial year	Percentage of total spend
2017 to 2018	23.6%
2016 to 2017	32.7%
2015 to 2016	28.3%

Greenhouse gas emissions

Change between chart and table

Financial year	Percentage reduction from 2009 to 2010 baseline
2017 to 2018	55%
2016 to 2017	48%
2015 to 2016	51%

Documents

Department for education single departmental plan

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[Withdrawn] Department for Education single departmental plan – May 2018

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[Withdrawn] Department for Education single departmental plan – December 2017

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Details

Our single departmental plan sets out our objectives and how we will achieve them.

Published 14 December 2017
Last updated 27 June 2019 + show all updates

1. 27 June 2019 Added single departmental plan for 2019.
2. 23 May 2018 Added the May 2018 single departmental plan.
3. 29 January 2018 Changes to reflect new ministerial portfolios
4. 14 December 2017 First published.