§ 37. Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his plans to raise standards in further education. [157946]
§ Mr. WicksStandards in further education are already high. The most recent annual report summarising inspections showed that over 90 per cent. of teaching in further education was judged satisfactory.
However, more needs to be done to bring standards in all colleges up to the level of the best. That is why the Government have put in place the Learning and Skills Council with a remit to secure better quantity and quality, introduced new inspection arrangements, and will increase the standards fund. These will all contribute to raising standards in further education.