In January 2021, the government published the Skills for Jobs White Paper, with a clear focus on the pivotal role that further and technical education has in helping people get skills for good jobs now and in the future. Part of the government’s ‘Plans for Jobs’, it recognises the importance of colleges in boosting productivity, strengthening communities, and supporting individuals. The Government have now followed this up by publishing the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, which was introduced in the House of Lords in May 2021 and is currently making its way through parliament.
The next stage of the Bill is the Committee Stage – this is open to all members of the House of Lords, and it involves a detailed line by line examination of the Bill. The first date of the Committee Stage is set for Tuesday 6 July, and we expect this stage to continue until after the summer Parliamentary recess.
One of our partner organisations The Association of Colleges has shared a document that has reviewed and proposed key areas for amendment to the Bill. FED welcome the inclusion of an amendment to ‘enshrine the creation of a national 10-year education and skills strategy sitting across government to deliver on wider policy agendas and to give stability to all parts of the system’.
To view the AOC document click the download link below.
