Clause
69
Co-operation
as regards provision of 14-19 education and
training
Question
proposed, That the clause stand part of the
Bill.
Mr.
Hayes:
The clause deals with collaborative arrangements
for the education and training of 14 to 19-year-olds. The explanatory
notes say that it
“also
enables local education authorities to set up joint arrangements for
co-operation on 14-19 education or training covering the areas for
which they are
responsible.”
Before
I say more on that, I must say that the intervention that the hon.
Member for Llanelli made on me about two hours ago, has just winged its
way to me via a carrier pigeon from Bognor Regis. It asks,
“Who used to say that
about doctors?”
My reply
was going to be: a Doctor Who always has an important female assistant,
who is usually
gorgeous.
Coming
back to clause 69, I should like to know whether its scope extends to
the new diplomas. Their successful implementation will depend on the
collaboration between institutions that is central to the clause. This
issue has been raised in the House before by me and others, and I know
that Ministers are sensitive about it, but there is doubt about how
much collaboration is taking place in pursuit of that end. Will the
Minister therefore take this opportunity to say a word about that sort
of productive collaboration on
diplomas?
Jim
Knight:
The successful delivery of 14-to-19 education
depends entirely on there being a collaborative approach within a local
area. The local authority, the learning and skills council, employers,
higher education institutions and providers of pre and post-16
education need to work together to ensure that the full range of
curriculum and qualifications can be delivered. We said in the 14-to-19
education and skills implementation plan published in 2005 that we
expected all areas to set up 14-to-19 partnerships that would be led by
the local authority and local LSC. We know that that has happened on a
voluntary basis, and there are many strong examples of 14-to-19
partnerships, such as the one in south Gloucestershire near the
constituency of the hon. Member for Bristol, West. Such partnerships
are driving developments locally.
All areas have
some sort of collaboration arrangements in place for 14-to-19
partnerships—I hope that helps the hon. Member for South Holland
and The Deepings—but we know that their quality varies. The next
few years will be crucial for the local planning of the infrastructure
needed for 14-to-19 delivery. We need to be confident that 14-to-19
partnerships are consistent, secure and able to have a strong voice in
their localities. The clause will strengthen and underpin the
arrangements that local authorities have set up for local co-operation
in 14-to-19 education by placing a legal duty on them to
make the necessary collaboration arrangements. It will also ensure that
14-to-19 education is an important part of local children’s
trust arrangements to provide better outcomes for young people. The
clause should stand part of the
Bill.
Question put
and agreed
to.
Clause 69
ordered to stand part of the
Bill.
Further
consideration adjourned.—[
Mr. Michael
Foster.]
Adjourned
accordingly at eight minutes past Seven o’clock till Thursday 28
February at Nine
o’clock.
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