The Learning and Skills Act 2000 is an
Act of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...
. It made changes in the funding and administration of
further education
Further education (often abbreviated FE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland is education in addition to that received at secondary school, that is distinct from the higher education (HE) offered in universities and other academic institutions. I ...
, and of work-based learning (or
apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system for training a new generation of practitioners of a Tradesman, trade or profession with on-the-job training and often some accompanying study (classroom work and reading). Apprenticeships can also enable practitioners ...
s) for young people, within
England and Wales
England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...
.
The main changes were:
* Establishment of the
Learning and Skills Council
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was a non-departmental public body jointly sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in England. It closed on 31 Marc ...
(LSC) to secure the provision of education and training for young people and adults, in England, and to encourage employers and individuals to participate, and the LSC's funding powers.
* Provisions for the appointment of
governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
s in the further education sector.
* Other duties and powers of the LSC, including
equal opportunities
Equal opportunity is a state of fairness in which individuals are treated similarly, unhampered by artificial barriers, prejudices, or preferences, except when particular distinctions can be explicitly justified. The intent is that the important ...
and the needs of people with
learning difficulties, powers to provide information, advice and guidance services and a duty to publish its strategy and annual plans.
* Establishment of local LSCs, including planning and consultation arrangements and the power of the
Secretary of State to make directions to local education authorities in respect of adult and community learning provision.
* Creation of the LSC's Young People's and Adult Learning Committees.
* Creation of
academies
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...
(originally known as "city academies"), publicly funded schools operating outside of local government control and with a significant degree of autonomy.
* Powers for the Secretary of State to give directions to the LSC, to pay it its annual grant-in-aid and require the LSC to make an annual report.
* Similar arrangements for Wales.
The Act also established arrangements for Inspections of further education in England and Wales, and abolished the
Further Education Funding Council for England
The Further Education Funding Council for England (FEFC) was a non-departmental public body of the Department for Education and Skills which distributed funding to Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges in England between 1992 and 2001.
It wa ...
.
External links
*.
Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning England and Wales
Career development in the United Kingdom
Educational administration
2000 in education
2000 in England
2000 in Wales
Education in England
Education in Wales
United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 2000
United Kingdom Education Acts
Vocational education in the United Kingdom
Youth employment
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