‘More to do’ to improve education for 16 to 18 year-olds, says Bacon

COMMENTING ON the Commons public accounts committee’s report on getting value for money from the education of 16-18 year-olds, South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, a member of the committee, said:

“The improvement in the educational achievements of 16 to 18 year-olds is good news, but much more can be done to improve the value for money of further education. 

“Colleges and sixth forms are accountable for the education they provide, but they are expected to answer to a jumble of departments, agencies and regulators.  Local authorities also have a duty to secure provision of 16 to 18 education for students in their area, but they haven’t been given the powers they need to do it properly.  The report also finds that smaller colleges are being dissuaded by bureaucracy from working together to achieve the student choice, improved results and economies of scale that larger institutions are enjoying. 

“The Department for Education must promote and encourage collaboration between smaller colleges, clarify the accountability framework for 16 to 18 education to ensure that it is proportionate, and give local authorities the powers they need to discharge their duties properly”.

16 August 2011