On 23 February 2005, the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) published the 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper. The White Paper sets out how the Government will fulfil the educational needs and aspirations of every young person. Government Offices act on behalf of DCSF in support of the aims of the White Paper, which are to: ensure that every young person masters functional English and maths before they leave education; improve vocational education; stretch all young people and help universities to differentiate between the best candidates; re-motivate disengaged learners; and ensure delivery of an appropriate curriculum.
We are using the 14-19 Progress Check process, Priorities Meetings and Annual Performance Assessments as well as the Joint Area Review processes to ensure that Local Authorities meet their new obligations to provide access to all diploma lines [particularly the first five due by 2008] and to agree local priorities relating to 14-19. Ensuring that Local Authorities are clear about the contribution they are making to raising attainment at age 19 and how this fits together with the contribution of other partners, especially Learning and Skills Councils, is a priority for us.
We are supporting events to spread good practice and encourage collaboration across the region and are encouraging take-up of structured Learning Visits to 14-19 Pathfinder and Increased Flexibility Partnership (IFP) areas. And we are also engaged in the Specialised Diploma Gateway process to assess readiness of consortia to deliver the Diplomas from September 2008 in each Local Authority area.
In addition, we are also using our membership of the Aimhigher Regional Partnership Board to make clear to stakeholders the link between economic development and widening participation in Higher Education.
