Many people have expressed having problems locating relevant documents relating to FE in Wales.  Hopefully, this page will help.

Transforming Education and Training Provision in Wales: Delivering Skills that Work for Wales  

This sets out WAG’s expectations for rapid and fundamental change in the post-16 provider network in Wales. 

It leaves the reader in no doubt that change is inevitable although how that change manifests itself is left to the local providers.  The timescale for proposals is very short – returns have to be submitted by 15th January 2009. 

The paper outlines the types of collaboration it deems acceptable: merger; cross-sectoral collaboration (LEA-FE or FE-HE) and tertiary arrangements.

Skills That Work For Wales 

This strategy describes the ‘One Wales’ ambition for a highly-educated, highly-skilled and high-employment Wales. 

Skills That Work for Wales builds on the consultation published in January 2008, and previous work including The Learning Country: Vision into Action.

The document also draws on the recent analyses and conclusions of two major independent reviews. This includes Lord Leitch’s review of skills in the UK and Sir Adrian Webb’s review of the mission and purpose of further education in Wales.

Promise and Performance

The Report of the Independent Review of the Mission and Purpose of Further Education in Wales in the context of the Learning Country: Vision in to Action.

This was a thorough-going policy review of the mission and purpose of the further education sector in Wales.  It was holistic in approach, incorporating an appraisal not just of Further Education Institutions, but an analysis of the wider roles of the sector too.  This included: 14-19 education; the skills needs of employers and the economy; adult learning; the interface with higher education provision; and the needs of, and responsiveness to, post 14 learners in Wales. 

Sir Adrian Webb undertook the review assisted by Sheila Drury CBE and Gary Griffiths.  The final report, also known as the “Webb review” was published in December 2007.