This consultation was launched on 31st March and seeks the views on proposals for how the DCSF should move to achieve the vision set out in the 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper, of a qualifications system in which every young person can prepare themselves through education and training to make a success of their life.

Deadline for Submissions is Monday 23rd June 2008

This Plan sets out how LSC London will invest considerable resources in London to meet the needs of Londoners and employers and to contribute to a more just and inclusive, as well as successful, economy and society. This regional strategy focuses on their key funding priorities.

For Young People the LSC seeks to:

• Raise the educational achievement of all young Londoners
• Narrow the gap in educational achievement between young people from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers

For Adults and Employers, the LSC shares the ambition of the LSEB to:

• Equip Londoners not in work with the skills to get a job
• Support those already in work to acquire new skills
• Support London employers to be increasingly competitive by being able to recruit local people with the right skills and by developing their existing workforce

This document contains further information on:

• Delivering on the London Skills and Employment Board Strategy
• English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL)

The Education and Skills Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on 28th November marking the beginning of the parliamentary journey for this landmark piece of legislation. The Bill has two key objectives:

1. It will increase participation in learning for young people and adults, to meet the ambition set out in the Leitch Review of Skills to achieve world class skills by 2020.
   
   The Bill will put in place the legislative framework to raise the education or training leaving age in England to 18 by 2015.
   
   A number of changes to existing legislation will help to ensure that appropriate support, information, advice and guidance is available for all young people to access and make choices about which learning options best meet their needs, whether GCSEs, A Levels, Diplomas, Apprenticeships or work-based learning.
   
   On the adult skills front, it gives adults the right to basic and intermediate skills development, offering a second chance for learners to gain the skills they need to thrive throughout their working lives.
   
   For those aged 19 to 25, it gives them free provision for a first full level 3 course.



2. The Education and Skills Bill makes provision for the rationalisation of the registration and regulation of independent schools and non-maintained special schools.

This document contains additional residency information to support providers who are involved in administering the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme. It should be read in conjunction with the 2007/08 EMA Guidance for FE Providers and the 2007/08 EMA Guidance for Providers of LSC-funded Entry to Employment and Programme Led Apprenticeships (formerly known as Programme Led Pathways).

This document is of interest to post-16 learning providers, LSC Area Partnership Teams, Connexions staff and other institutions involved in 16–19 FE provision.

Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC's) Chief Executive has welcomed the Government's proposal to enable all young people to benefit from learning up to the age of 18. This response was developed in consultation with the nine regions of the Learning and Skills Council and the Young People's Learning Committee.

This is LSC's letter to the Secretary of State accompanying it's response to the Green Paper consultation.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) headed by Ed Balls MP is responsible for improving the focus on all aspects of policy affecting children and young people, as part of the Government's aim to deliver educational excellence.

It will build on the successes in education and children's services that we have seen over the last decade. It will now focus on the significant challenges that remain – raising standards so that more children and young people reach expected levels, lifting more children out of poverty and re-engaging disaffected young people. The new structure will also allow us to respond to new challenges that will affect children and families: demographic and socio-economic change; developing technology; and increasing global competition.

On 28th June the Government created the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). The new Department will deliver the Government's long-term vision to make Britain one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation. It will ensure that the UK has the skilled workforce it needs to compete in the global economy.

The Department is headed by Rt Hon John Denham MP, the first Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills. He will promote effective investment in research, science, innovation and skills, putting these at the heart of the Government's competitiveness strategy.

Papers for consultation on the issues for education for young people supervised by the youth justice system (age 10-17, across England only).

This consultation follows a commitment in the publication 'Reducing Re-Offending Through Skills and Employment: Next Steps' (December 2006) and seeks views on issues for young offenders access to and participation in education, training and employment; the curriculum offer; workforce development; and the accountability framework for young offenders' education.

Please send the DfES your views by Wednesday 4th July 2007

This consultation invites 'Young People' to comment on the Government's proposals to change the law so that they have to stay in education or training until they turn 18. Reach magazine explains what is behind the plans and asks young people what they think about them.

If you are an Adult and wish to comment on these proposals, please respond to the Raising Expectations: Staying in Education and Training post-16 Green Paper consultation.

Please send the DfES your views by Thursday 14th June 2007

This document aims to provide a framework for regional, area and local discussion on the future planning and strategic direction for education business link (EBL) activity within the wider 14–19, schools and Further Education reform agenda. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is keen to promote an open and flexible approach together with the right structures through which to deliver future EBL delivery which takes into account local and regional priorities.

Over the next ten years, 14 to 19 year olds will be offered greater choice in the courses, subjects and qualifications they take, making it easier to gain the basic skills needed for life and work. New specialised Diplomas will be introduced alongside GCSEs and A levels.

• Why changes to 14 to 19 education are needed?
• New specialised Diplomas
• Changes to GCSEs and A levels
• Help for those not achieving their potential