§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how often the Charter for Further Education is reviewed and revised; and if he will make a statement; [88582]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the standards in the Charter for Further Education are being met; and if he will make a statement. [88583]
§ Mr. MudieThe Charter for Further Education was last reviewed and an addendum issued in October 1997. "Service First—the new charter programme" encourages the continued development and revision of local charters in line with the Government's commitment to improving local services. Further Education sector colleges have their own charters which focus on local needs. The national charter remains under review.
The Further Education Funding Council Inspectorate monitors colleges' performance against local and national charter standards, as part of its ongoing assessment of quality in the sector. Inspectors' findings are routinely included in published college reports. These highlight good practice and, where necessary, issues which need to be addressed.