Learning and Skills in England

In England, learning and skills refers to a sector of education that includes key training providers such as further education and sixth form colleges, schools with sixth forms, local authority and adult education institutions and private and voluntary sector providers.^[1] It also includes workplace learning (including Apprenticeships), offender learning and employer-facing work initiatives such as Train to Gain.

The learning and skills sector is seen as a key player in the government’s aim to increase productivity, economic competitiveness and sustainable employment in the UK.^[2] This aim is set out in the government’s Skills Strategy.

Learning and skills is sometimes used interchangeably with further education.

Learning and skills also refers to the actual learning which learners undertake and the skills they acquire.

Responsibility for learning and skills

In England, the learning and skills sector is funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and subject to inspection by Ofsted.

Since June 2007, the learning and skills sector is overseen by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, although some parts (such as education and training for 14-19 year olds) fall within the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

The Learning and Skills Network provides a range of resources to support the learning and skills sector in England and Northern Ireland, such as in-house training and consultancy.

Providers of learning and skills

The learning and skills sector is made up of a number of different training providers, such as colleges and private organisations, and also includes workplace learning and offender learning.

Further education colleges and adult education institutes

Further education colleges can vary considerably in size, and in the subjects and facilities they offer. Many are ‘general’ FE colleges and offer courses in a wide range of subject areas.

Some further education colleges are specialist colleges, and offer subjects such as agriculture and horticulture, drama and dance. Other specialist colleges cater for students with a particular disability or learning difficulty.

Private training providers

Private training providers can include profit-making or voluntary organisations. These enter into a contract with the LSC, and receive funding based on learning outcomes.

Schools with sixth forms and sixth form colleges

Sixth forms also vary a lot in size, and in the courses and facilities they offer. Sixth form colleges tend to be larger and more informal than school sixth forms and offer both academic style courses (such as A levels) and vocational programmes.

Workplace learning

Workplace learning falls into a number of categories. It can include training for people looking for work, (through schemes such as New Deal or Pathways to Work), for people learning how to do a job (for example through Apprenticeships or for people learning new skills in their current job (through continuing professional development or employer-facing work initiatives such as Train to Gain).

Offender learning

Offender learning is overseen by the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service, run by the LSC. It provides learning activities for offenders in prison or those in the community under the supervision of the Probation Service.

Programmes offered by learning and skills providers

Programmes offered by learning and skills providers are very diverse and range from basic skills basic skills courses to Foundation Degrees, including both academic and vocational qualifications.

These programmes are accredited by various awarding bodies, under the supervision of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority which regulates the qualifications system in England.