New accountability measures for colleges should be extended to cover learners’ social as well as employment outcomes, the Learning and Work Institute (L&W) has recommended in this report, commissioned by the Association of Colleges (AoC).
The report looks to build on the government’s plans to judge providers on outcomes.
Under the Department for Education’s white paper proposals, ringfencing and reporting requirements would be relaxed for providers. They would instead have to plan delivery around local employer need and possibly scale back oversupplied provision.
Under the L&W’s proposals, colleges could choose social outcomes to measure including students’ mental wellbeing, the number of social contacts or groups they join, or their confidence.
This will build on the proposals in the white paper, currently being turned into law through the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill, for providers to be held accountable for employment outcomes for their learners.