< Previous | Contents | Next >
Building the Foundations of A LIFELONG LEARNING SOCIETY
 SECTION
2: SCOPE OF STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
2.1 We, the review group, are charged with developing a joint
schools/FE strategy and implementation plan. As outlined in section 1.9,
the review has four key themes:
- the purpose of school/college collaboration;
- managing supply and demand and funding responsibilities;
- implications for schools and colleges; and
- pupil welfare and support.
Other Executive Reviews
2.2 The Scottish Executive will introduce financial support for all
eligible 16 to 19 year olds from low-income families to allow them to continue
their full-time education in schools or further education colleges. Education
Maintenance Allowances will be rolled out to the whole of Scotland, providing
up to £1,500 per year maintenance, beginning academic year 2004/05 and completed
by 2007/08.
2.3 No further changes to financial support to school pupils are
being considered. The review will not therefore consider issues of financial
support given directly to pupils. As far as financial support to the student
population not in school is concerned, the Funding for Learners Division of
the Scottish Executive Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department
is leading an informal review of current further education student support,
current higher education student support, Education Maintenance Allowances and
Individual Learning Accounts. The objective of the review is to make or recommend
changes that will improve the coherence, equity and effectiveness of the overall
provision of learner funding. The review will support the delivery of the Executive's
lifelong learning strategy.
2.4 While the school/college review will consider further education
colleges' engagement with 'winter leavers', the issue of whether 'winter leavers'
ought to remain enrolled in schools will be considered separately. How to equip
further education lecturers with the necessary skills to teach under 16 year
olds effectively is being considered in the context of the current Executive
review of occupational standards and national guidelines on provision leading
to the teaching qualification in further education (TQ(FE)) and related professional
development.
2.5 It should be noted that as part of the commitments within 'Educating
for Excellence', the Scottish Executive's response to the national debate on
education, there will be a review of the school curriculum running in parallel
with the school/college review.
Balance Between National and Local
2.6 Participants at the school/college conference generally welcomed
the development of a national strategy on collaboration between schools and
further education colleges that is underpinned by local strategies involving
delivery partners. In his address to the conference, the Deputy Minister for
Education and Young People, Euan Robson MSP, explained the role of government
as being to set the policy framework, and then to ensure that the support is
there. It is to listen to practitioners and those with expertise, give the relevant
sector the support it needs, and then let them get on with delivery.
2.7 There are some matters that need to be addressed in the national
strategy and implementation plan. There are others that are best determined
locally. While recognising the need for strategic direction, we wish to avoid
over-prescription. At the outset we therefore seek views on where that balance
should be struck.
Q1. What issues should the review address? What issues are best determined
locally?
< Previous | Contents | Next > | 
