Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2023 to Question 195003 on Further Education: Regulation, for what reason colleges are required to produce an annual accountability statement; and if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of (a) strategic plans (b) financial plans, (c) operational plans and (d) annual strategic conversations for setting out colleges’ accountability duties.

The department has introduced a new accountability agreement through the Funding and Accountability Reforms. Following a consultation, the agreement is a two-part document setting out the overall expectations of providers in return for funding. The agreement forms part of the wider set of reforms to better support young people and adults to develop the skills they need to get a good job and ensure a clearer focus on the delivery of outcomes. The accountability statement encourages colleges to think strategically about how they best deliver to support local, regional and national skills needs. These strategic plans will be used to inform the Annual Strategic Conversations.

The Annual Strategic Conversation is a strategically focussed conversation with college leadership that enables the department, and the Further Education Commissioner, to understand how a college is responding to the skills agenda, and to how it is meeting the needs of the learners and communities that it serves.

College accounts, financial returns, and delivery reports are also regularly reviewed to understand how effectively policy intent is being delivered and support risk-based intervention, which helps target support where it is most needed.

The department is currently working with colleges to simplify the system and minimise the administrative burdens, whilst maintaining confidence and ensuring public funds are used for the purposes intended.