1 Preface
1. This report arises from a series of evidence sessions
on the subject of further education held between November 2005
and April 2006. This is the first in-depth inquiry into further
education that the Committee has undertaken for some years; it
has also taken place concurrently with a number of reviews that
have been carried out by or on behalf of the Government. In November
2004 the DfES and the LSC commissioned Sir Andrew Foster to carry
out an independent review of further education and chart a future
direction for the sector.[1]
This review reported in November 2005, and we sought evidence
on its findings from a wide range of witnesses. We also examined
closely a particular area of current concern which was largely
outside the scope of the Foster Review—the funding of learning
for those adults outside the Government's current priority funding
groups.
2. During the inquiry, the Committee heard oral evidence
from Sir Andrew Foster and Dr Robert Chilton, The Association
of Colleges, the National Institute for Adult Continuing Education,
the National Union of Students, National Association of Teachers
in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE), Ofsted, the Adult Learning
Inspectorate (ALI), the Association of Learning Providers (ALP),
The Sector Skills Development Agency , Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)
and ProSkills. We also took evidence from Bill Rammell, Minister
of State for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning and Phil Hope
MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the DfES.
3. Our inquiry has also been informed by our visit
to the Republic of Ireland. We would like to extend our thanks
to all those involved for organising a highly informative visit.
We are grateful for assistance with this inquiry from Chris Hughes,
formerly Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Development
Agency, Professor Prue Huddleston, Centre for Education and Industry,
University of Warwick and Annette Zera, formerly Principal of
Tower Hamlets College.
1 Sir Andrew Foster Realising the potential. A review
of the future role of further education colleges, 2005. Back
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