HC Deb 14 February 2003 vol 400 cc153-4W
Stephen Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to increase the quality of tuition in further education colleges. [95897]

Margaret Hodge

A new Standards Unit within DfES was established in January 2003 to drive the Government's strategy for reforming further education and training—'Success for AH'. The Unit will identify, develop and disseminate good practice to improve teaching standards in priority curriculum areas and develop associated teacher training and support. The Unit will also improve standards of teaching and learning and will improve further education teacher training, recruitment and retention and establish a new leadership college for the sector.

Stephen Hesford

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to improve(a) teaching standards and (b) results in further education colleges.[95961]

Margaret Hodge

Our comprehensive invest and reform strategy for further education and training "Success for All" was published on 19 November. "Success for All" will dramatically improve teaching standards and results in colleges.

We will invest an additional £1.2 billion in colleges over the next three years. The Learning and Skills Council will undertake Strategic Area Reviews to improve the effectiveness of the network of post-16 provision and will introduce three year funding agreements for colleges based on tough new results targets.

A new Standards Unit within the Department for Education and Skills was set up in January 2003. The Standards Unit will improve standards of teaching and learning and will improve further education teacher training, recruitment and retention and establish a new Leadership College for the sector.