- London has recently completed a national Area Review into its Further Education (FE) sector[1].
- The Area Review makes a number of recommendations, including nine mergers which will affect over 20 colleges across the capital.
- Concerns have been raised about the quality of the data and projections used to justify the recommendations.
Approximately 500,000 people attend London institutions to gain further education qualifications and the sector employs over 16,000 staff[2].
What changes will be made to the capital’s FE sector as a result of the Area Review?
How much will it cost to implement the recommendations?
How does the review fit into the Mayor’s wider strategy on skills and devolution?
The London Assembly Education Panel will tomorrow examine the likely impact of the recently completed Area Review on the FE sector in London. The guests are:
The following guests will be questioned:
- Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills
- Mary Vine-Morris, Regional Director, Association of Colleges
- Andy Wilson, CEO, Capital City College Group (including Westminster Kingsway College and City and Islington College)
- Professor Ann Hodgson, UCL Institute of Education
The meeting will take place on Thursday 6 April from 10:00am in the Chamber, City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed via webcast
Follow us @LondonAssembly and take part in the discussion using #AssemblyEdu
Notes to editors
- London’s FE sector is comprised of 41 Further Education Colleges and Sixth Form colleges (SFCs), 150 independent learning providers, 400 schools that provide a sixth form and 40 Higher Education Institutes: Re-shaping the Education and Vocational, offer for 16-19 year olds in London, London Enterprise Panel.
- A Growth Deal for London, London Enterprise Panel, March 2014.
- London’s Area Review was divided into four sub-regional reviews: Central, West London, South London, and East and South East London. Sub-regional reports are available to download here.
- Full agenda papers.
- Jennette Arnold OBE AM, Chair of the Education Panel is available for interview. See contact details below.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Mary Dolan 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.