Strengthening governance of the English Post-16 Skills System

The Association of Colleges (AoC) commissioned Work Advance to undertake research looking at where  improvements in skills governance arrangements might be beneficial to enhance the delivery of the skills  reform programme in England and support better outcomes for learners and employers in future within the  skills system. 

The current reforms being progressed by the UK Government, since the Sainsbury’s post-16 plan in 2016 and the subsequent Augar review of post 18 education and funding, seek to build a  stronger, post-16 skills system in England on a par with other leading nations – that is where skills  provision is industry-facing, and responsive to the needs of a modern, and more rapidly, changing  economy, supporting lifelong learning for all. However, there are still many persistent challenges to  overcome.  

A key intention of this project is to consider how a strengthened role for governance might help to ensure  that the system is fit to meet the demands of a future world of work. Key governance functions might  include: establishing priorities; defining appropriate financial and non-financial incentives; supporting policy  innovations and improvements; assuring the quality of skills policy and practices; monitoring progress and  evaluating impacts; shaping and developing the institutional infrastructure, supporting delivery; and  enabling broad and deep stakeholder collaboration. 

The project in particular aims to draw on insights from  other countries, making use of research and analysis from international bodies such as the Organisation  for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as it seeks to understand how national skills systems around the world, adjust to future economic demands and are “future proofed”. 

The project  includes a specific focus on the value of establishing a new dedicated skills oversight body to work with  key partners in different parts of the system in England and how that could be organised, governed, and  resourced.