SFA’s David Hughes on QCF, funding and shared services
SFA’s David Hughes chats with FE News about the Skills Strategy announcement by the FE Minister John Hayes at the AoC conference.
Mr Hughes discusses three key areas: Funding, QCF and the the procurement of shared services, offering an excellent insight into the SFA’s plans ahead of Mr Hayes’ official announcement.
Funding:
Mr Hughes wants to make it very clear that there is a phasing of cost reductions, not a massive cut 2011-2012, but that the reductions will be phased in.
Explaining the shift in strategy for a growth in apprenticeships, he reveals there will be a bigger reduction in what was Train to Gain, which will now be called Work Based Learning , with a focus now on skills for life. There will also be a shift to towards SME’s, rather than large corporations.
What was traditionally the FE budget will reduce a little, but will not reduce greatly in year one.
He also explains that his team is hoping to get their funding allocations out before Christmas, but this is all dependent on receiving their allocated funds from the Treasury. This is the first time they have been able to deliver their allocations so early. He adds that at worst the funding allocations will be announced in the first or second week of January 2011.
In addition, Mr Hughes explains that the SFA and BIS are trying to map out a three to four year plan of the changes in the sector, and are preparing for the changes being introduced over the next three to four week period. These changes include who is eligible for funding and the introduction of loans during 2013-2014.
QCF:
Mr Hughes explains where we are now with QCF, and where it is going to move into. QCF is here to stay, he says, with over a million learners last year and 3000 qualifications on the framework being delivered by over 1000 providers – but work needs to be done to improve the funding and credit accumulation systems. Learners will have the ability to learn in bite-sized chunks and the SFA aims for learning to fit around the individual, with providers acting more creatively in how they offer programmes.
Costing Saving:
SFA, with some Treasury funds, are working with the AoC, 157 Group, and the ALP on how they can develop shared services between colleges and training providers
Click on the image below to hear what Mr Hughes has to say
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