The need

Everyone in the further education system is committed to providing the best service for learners, employers and local communities. There are already many excellent colleges and providers and much excellent teaching and learning practice. We know that already:

• a wide range of learners achieve their goals, gaining new knowledge and understanding, and developing the skills they need for work and personal fulfilment through stimulating and expert teaching that takes account of their individual needs and circumstances
• many businesses improve their productivity as a result of employees developing the vocational and employability skills needed to meet business objectives and accessing training provision that meets their needs (in terms of time, place, content, quality and method of delivery)
• most colleges and providers have a mission that is demand led and driven by the needs of learners and employers; they have effective leaders who are enterprising and make good use of resources, including ICT, to enable effective teaching, learning, support and management
• we are on target to meet the interim target for qualified teachers (set under Success for All)
• the system has demonstrated great flexibility in adapting to new challenges
• the system is effective in reflecting and responding to the diversity of local communities and has a strong track record in tackling inequality and reducing the achievement gap
• people working in the further education system are committed to improving education and training and continuing their professional development
• the prevailing culture is one of continuous self improvement, where colleges and providers reflect on their performance and share expertise to help each other improve

There has been an increase in success rates across the sector. Overall, FE college success rates stand at 74 per cent in 2004/05. Success rates for FE sector colleges have risen to 75 per cent and so have exceeded, two years early, the target of 72 per cent established within Success for All. Linked to this, the Government is currently considering challenging new success rate targets for 2010/11. The first to be announced is a success rate of 80 per cent for 2010/11 for FE colleges. A new target will be set for Apprenticeships shortly.

Current success rates for complete frameworks in all types of Apprenticeship have risen by nine percentage points to 40 per cent in 2004/05 (compared to the expected 33 per cent). Advanced Apprenticeships and Apprenticeships (at Level 2) have increased by 5 and 10 percentage points to 38 per cent and 40 per cent respectively in 2004/05. Current success rates for learners who left learning with a full framework or an NVQ have increased from 46 per cent to 53 per cent in 2004/05. This figure includes learners of all ages, NVQs at all levels and all Apprenticeship frameworks.