Further Education in Wales …. present and future

Mark JonesPrincipal Gower College Swansea

Chair - ColegauCymru

Further Education in Wales …. present and future

What do we mean by Further Education?

Achievements of the FE sector in recent years.

The priorities going forward.

The risks and challenges to achieving this.

FE Sector

15 FE colleges and FE institutions.

10 FE corporations including St David’s Catholic College.

3 FE colleges part of university groups. 2 designated FE institutions (WEA Cymru and

YMCA).

FE colleges and FE institutions in Wales June 2014

1. Bridgend College 2. Cardiff and Vale College 3. Coleg Cambria4. Coleg Ceredigion5. Grŵp Llandrillo Menai 6. Coleg Gwent 7. Coleg y Cymoedd 8. Coleg Sir Gâr

9. Gower College Swansea 10. The College Merthyr Tydfil11. NPTC Group 12. Pembrokeshire College 13. St David's Catholic College14. WEA Cymru15. YMCA Community College

What does Further Education do?

Vocational 16-18A LevelsHigher EducationVocational 14-16ApprenticeshipsTraineeships

Jobs Growth WalesAdult Community LearningCourses for EmployersKnowledge Transfer PartnershipsSLDD StudentsInternational Students - work

….. and much much more

Quality and standards

Impact of Mergers on College Size

Turnover £m No. Colleges July 2009

No. Colleges after mergers Jan 2014

0 - 5 4 1

5 - 10 5 2

10 - 15 2 1

15 - 20 5 0

20 - 25 5 2

25 - 30 2 1

30 - 35 1 0

35 - 40 0 0

40 - 50 0 4

50 - 60 1 2

60+ 0 2

Total 25 15

DfES Funding:2007/08 – 2015/16 in cash and real terms

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

250,000,000

260,000,000

270,000,000

280,000,000

290,000,000

300,000,000

310,000,000

320,000,000

330,000,000

340,000,000

DfES recurrent fundingDfES recurrent funding if at 2007/08 figures

Post 16 Learner Voice Wales Survey 2014

Completed by 37,917 FE learners (49.1%)

78% of learners rated their college as very good or good.

81% of learners rated the quality of teaching and learning as very good or good.

87% of learners said that their course was better than or about what they expected.

Other achievements in recent years

Delivery of a common contract.

High performance e.g. progress on to Oxbridge.

Support for the new HE Bill.

Responding effectively to Welsh Government policies and strategies.

“I witnessed a flexible and cohesive FE sector determined to deliver”.Huw Lewis

Minister for Education & Skills Priorities Letter May 2014

“The FE sector in Wales has been instrumental in delivering a range of key policies for the Welsh Government and will continue to play a key part in meeting the education and skills needs of the population.”

“Time and again the sector has proved that it is signed up for change. It demonstrates to the rest of the UK what the Welsh FE sector can achieve when it puts its mind to something.”

Ken SkatesDeputy Minister for Skills & TechnologyColegau Cymru Conference May 2014

Quotations

Priorities for the FE Sector 2015/16

1. Tackling poverty agenda.

2. Literacy and numeracy.

3. Learner progression and support.

4. Employer engagement and enterprise.

5. Developing Welsh medium provision.

Other Priorities 2015/16

Ensure the continued delivery of Adult Community Learning.

Develop the use of e-learning.

Deliver further efficiency gains through working collaboratively.

Work with Regional Education Consortia.

Add value to the culture of transparency and collaboration in the post 16 sector.

Also on “the to do list” for FE Colleges

Continue to improve quality outcomes.

Continue to balance the budget.

Develop new and innovative partnerships.

Improve data on destinations of FE students.

Continue to develop a Welsh ethos – to complement the additional Welsh medium provision.

Risks and Challenges

Funding

Central funding. Pay parity. Co-investment. Transport

Increasing Demand

Literacy/Numeracy. SLDD. ACL. Demographics.

15 – 19 Population of Wales 2010 - 2030

2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030165.000

170.000

175.000

180.000

185.000

190.000

195.000

200.000

15 - 19 Population of Wales 2010 - 2030

15-19

20 + Population of Wales 2010 - 2030

2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 20302,290.000

2,340.000

2,390.000

2,440.000

2,490.000

2,540.000

2,590.000

20+ Population of Wales 2010 - 2030

20+

Risks and Challenges (cont’d)

Partnerships

Schools. Local Authorities. Higher Education Institutions

Further Sector Changes

Qualifications. Higher Education Review. Williams Report.

Further Education in Wales …. present and future

Mark JonesPrincipal Gower College Swansea

Chair - ColegauCymru