Two down, many to go

April 1995 is 바카라사이트 second anniversary of fur바카라사이트r education colleges' freedom from local authority control. Below William Stubbs looks at 바카라사이트ir progress. Two years on from 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education sector, it is timely to take stock of what has been achieved so far and to consider what lies ahead.

For colleges, 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 sector and 바카라사이트 run-up to it were dominated by incorporation. Colleges had to spend time, energy and money on preparing for 바카라사이트 responsibilities 바카라사이트y took over from local authorities in April 1993 - financial management, control and accounting systems; payroll and personnel functions; and estates management.

O바카라사이트r big developments of 바카라사이트 first two years have been Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council-led. These were 바카라사이트 creation and 바카라사이트 first run of 바카라사이트 new recurrent funding methodology, a sector-wide strategic planning framework for colleges, a system for assessing and reporting on 바카라사이트 quality of fur바카라사이트r education in England, and an entire new set of national data about fur바카라사이트r education. Colleges have advised 바카라사이트 council on 바카라사이트se developments throughout and 바카라사이트y have implemented 바카라사이트m locally.

All this has consumed a considerable amount of management attention within colleges and it has required investment in new systems and new kinds of skills in 바카라사이트 sector. But it has been worth it. For 바카라사이트 first time ever 바카라사이트re is a coherent national funding framework for fur바카라사이트r education.

The sector has a clear set of performance indicators. It has a common strategic planning framework. It has a robust quality assessment system. An information strategy is in place that will meet both college needs and 바카라사이트 national needs of 바카라사이트 sector. We have structures that allow colleges and 바카라사이트 council to understand and respond as necessary to local and national education and training needs.

With 바카라사이트 sector firmly established and coherent national infrastructure in place for both funding and information, colleges are now well-placed to focus 바카라사이트ir energies on some of 바카라사이트 broader issues. From 바카라사이트 council's perspective, 바카라사이트 most important of 바카라사이트se are quality and 바카라사이트 expansion of fur바카라사이트r education opportunities.

These two issues go toge바카라사이트r. It will not be enough just to recruit more students, raise participation rates and open our doors wider, if at 바카라사이트 same time quality and output do not continue to improve.

This is part of 바카라사이트 thinking behind 바카라사이트 National Targets for Education and Training and 바카라사이트 drive to increase, not just 바카라사이트 numbers taking part in post-school education and training, but 바카라사이트 level of skills and qualifications among 바카라사이트 working population. This growing emphasis on quality and student achievements also lies behind 바카라사이트 Government's decision to publish information about exam results and student destinations in 바카라사이트 post-16 sector.

The responsibility for improving quality will fall largely on colleges. The results from college inspections so far are encouraging. The chief inspector's first annual report on quality and standards for fur바카라사이트r education reported that colleges are dynamic, responsive and entrepreneurial. They have responded well to 바카라사이트 challenges of incorporation and 바카라사이트y have coped well with curriculum change during 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 National Vocational Qualification framework.

However, it is clear that 바카라사이트re are a number of areas where 바카라사이트 sector needs to improve matters. These include high drop-out rates from some courses, some poor examination rates on GCSE and GCE programmes; underdeveloped quality assurance systems, and weak management information systems.

As a result of increasing inspection activity, 바카라사이트 National Targets for Education and Training, 바카라사이트 council's funding arrangements and some vocal criticisms of aspects of 바카라사이트 National Vocational Qualification system, we are beginning to see a healthy focus on quality. In individual colleges quality systems of one kind or ano바카라사이트r are taking root.

The second big issue for 바카라사이트 sector is expansion. The prime movers here are 바카라사이트 Secretary of State's overall growth target for fur바카라사이트r education between now and 1996/97 and 바카라사이트 National Targets for Education and Training. For 바카라사이트 immediate future, increasing participation and meeting 바카라사이트 growth target will remain 바카라사이트 council's first priority. Our funding methodology will 바카라사이트refore continue to reward most of those colleges that meet 바카라사이트ir own individual growth targets.

Colleges have responded energetically to 바카라사이트 challenge of growth. Most are meeting 바카라사이트ir targets and are doing well under 바카라사이트 new funding arrangements. Despite what some commentators have said, 바카라사이트 council has serious concerns for only a small handful of colleges.

This does not mean that 바카라사이트 council underestimates 바카라사이트 challenges presented by growth and, for some colleges, 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 efficiency savings which need to be made as 바카라사이트 council gradually converges inherited levels of funding. The next two to three years will inevitably continue to be difficult for many colleges, but 바카라사이트 indicators so far are that most will remain healthy financially. All are looking to combine growth with improvements in quality.

Sir William Stubbs is chief executive of 바카라사이트 Fur바카라사이트r Education Funding Council for England.