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Changes in how provider performance will be assessed

Framework for Excellence

The LSC Framework for Excellence: A comprehensive performance assessment framework for the further education system aims to provide a comprehensive basis for performance assessment that takes into account the key aspects of college and provider activity. The framework works in parallel with the Quality Improvement Agency’s National Improvement Strategy for Further Education, Pursuing excellence published in January 2007 after a period of consultation with colleges, providers and national agencies.

The Framework for Excellence aims to provide a transparent basis for performance assessment, bringing together the hitherto separate assessments of financial performance, academic quality and community relevance, and taking into account all aspects of college and provider activity in a more coherent and holistic approach. It will work in conjunction with existing assessment instruments such as the Common Inspection Framework (CIF) and self-assessment review processes. The aim is to eradicate by 2008 all provision assessed as poor or underperforming.

The Framework for Excellence is structured around three key dimensions and seven key performance indicators (KPIs):

The three key dimensions diagram

The seven key performance indicators
Dimension Key performance indicator
Responsiveness
  1. Delivery against plan
  2. Responsiveness to learners
  3. Responsiveness to employers
Effectiveness
  1. Quality of outcomes
  2. Quality of provision
Finance
  1. Financial health
  2. Financial control

Further information on the precise definitions of the seven KPIs and the results of the consultation exercises for both documents are available from the LSC Framework for Excellence website. The Framework is to be implemented in full across FE colleges, sixth-form colleges and work-based learning (WBL) providers from August 2007 and all other providers in scope from August 2008.

QIA National Improvement Strategy

The three aims of the Improvement Strategy:

  1. All learners in the further education system are equally able to access high quality education and training that equips them with the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need for work and personal fulfilment.
  2. Training provision meets employers’ business needs and employers can recruit people with the vocational and employability skills needed to increase productivity.
  3. The further education system continuously improves so that colleges and providers aspire to an achieve excellence, and no provision is unsatisfactory.

The 12 priority actions for the Improvement Strategy identified by QIA are to:

  1. embed personalisation and increase the learner voice
  2. improve provider responsiveness to employers
  3. improve performance and quality assessment, including robust self-assessment, peer review and validation, the introduction of the Framework for Excellence and a more proportionate approach to inspection
  4. implement the Intervention Strategy
  5. support leadership development and implement leadership qualifications
  6. launch and implement the Workforce Development Strategy
  7. continue and extend the National Teaching and Learning Change Programme
  8. continue and extend the Skills for Life Improvement Programme and prospects to take forward the Leitch recommendations
  9. continue and extend the Development Programme to Train to Gain in light of the Leitch recommendations
  10. deliver the 14–19 Diploma Support Programmes
  11. identify the needs and develop programmes to support Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4
  12. develop programmes to address the gaps in success rates between learners from different backgrounds.

For a detailed implementation plan showing how the aims and objectives will be achieved see the Pursuing Excellence website.

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