Closes 3 June 2020
Closed 7 May 2020
Closed 31 March 2020
Closed 30 March 2020
Closed 17 March 2020
Closed 13 March 2020
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes.
We asked for views about strengthening the arrangements for ring-fencing DSG so that it is clear that DSG deficits do not have to be met from local authorities’ general funds.
The majority of respondents agreed with the proposals but thought they needed further strengthening to achieve what was intended.
The department put the ring-fencing requirement into the School and Early Years Finance Regulations 2020 to give it statutory backing. DSG deficits can no longer be paid off from general funds without requesting permission from the Secretary of State, and the DfE will work with authorities to enable them to pay off their deficits from within DSG funds.
For your views on our proposals to improve data on the FE workforce. In particular we wanted to know how plans for a mandatory annual workforce data collection would be received by those within the intended scope of the collection and those who would be responsible for making the data returns.
We were pleased to get a good response covering lots of different voices from the further education sector including providers, sector representatives organisations and individuals working in FE. All comments were considered as part of the review of proposals and reflected in the consultation response.
As a result, we intend to press ahead by introducing a workforce data collection from the 2020/21 academic year, which will be mandatory from the 2021/22 academic year.
A summary of the responses received was included in the full consultation response. The Department will now work with the Education and Skills Funding Agency to prepare for the launch of the collection.
The ESFA will review the impact that Covid-19 disruption has on user-testing and software development. Providers will be informed to what extent this may affect the development timetable. We do not currently expect this to change the requirement for mandatory returns in the 2021/22 academic year.
We asked for your views on proposals from employer groups to develop new Apprenticeship Standards, to help ensure that any new Standards taken forward for development are viable, high quality, and widely supported. In particular we wanted to know whether the proposed Apprenticeships were in recognised occupations requiring at least 12 months of training, and whether the Standard would duplicate any others already in existence.
We received a wide range of responses across all bids, including from, employers, universities, Trade Association, Federation, Royal Marines, Royal Navy, Theatres and schools. All comments were considered as part of the overall review of proposals carried out by the department.
We approved the following Apprenticeship proposals for development:
A summary of comments received was included in the feedback to each proposal. The Department will now support the successful employer groups to develop their Standards.