AQUA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2010

June 30th 2010, ICC BirminghamNick LinfordHead of the Pearson Research Institute

Hints and tips: Post-16 funding, Train to Gain and data

Presentation contents

> Summary of commissioning landscape

> Brief headline funding update

> ILR data quality, audit and ‘standards’

> Train to Gain – changes for 2010/11 and future

Note: These slides will be circulated by AQUA after the conference

?What next?

Retain/cut existing agencies?Create Schools Funding Agency?

Create FE Funding Agency?Create FE and HE Funding Agency?

16-18 LR (FE)

16-18 Appren

Adult LR(FE)

19+ ER Adult

LR(FE)

19+ ER

16-18 LR (FE)

16-18 Appren

£7.5bn

BISDCSF

Funding Learners

4m

2010/11 demand-led funding (England)

Direction of travel for 2010/11

Funding+

6.6%

+ 12.2%

-11.5%

+0.1%

16-18 LR

(FE)

16-18Appren

Adult LR

(FE)

19+ ER

+ 1.1%

+ 10.4%

- 25.3%

+ 23.3%Learner

s

£0£200m

£400m

£600m

£800m£1bn

£1.2bn

Appren 16-18 Appren 19+ Train to Gain

Original 2010-11 budgetPost-election changes

+ £150m(+38%)

- £200m(-20%)

Post-election budget changes

* Financial year Apr-Mar (England)

£50m forFE capital

Investment for 2010-11 compared to 2009-10

* Financial year Apr-Mar (England)

£0£200m

£400m

£600m

£800m£1bn

£1.2bn

Appren 16-18 Appren 19+ Train to Gain

+ 16%

+ 50%

- 15%

2009-102010-11

Other Train to Gain changes for 2010/11• 6% national funding rate reduction• Co-funded non-first full Level 2• 25% rate reduction large employers• Assumed employer contribution up from 47.5% to 50%• SfL weighting reduced from 1.4 to 1.2 (excl. entry level numeracy)• SLN rates for QCF quals yet to be published on LAD• All changes apply to carry-in instalments

Train to Gain future

Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

2010/11 financial year (government budgets)

2010/11 academic year (contracts)

Aug Sep OctNov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Apr May Jun Jul

2011/12 ??????

Apr May Jun Jul

> More funding switched to Apprenticeships?> Funding rate reduction during academic year?

Hint: Keep and eye on last four months of 2010/11

> CSR on 20th October will be critical information

> New funding methodology and brand for 2011/12?

Hence a two month deadline to record start & three months to record achievement is being introduced.

Skills Funding Agency and data timelinessRemember these headlines?

A big part of the problem was training was occurring, but not being reported:

Less than a

year later

“In 2009/10, based on data received, it was not until month 4 that the greater part of month 1’s data was reported”

Tip: Review unique learner number collection processes

The information authority and data validityValidity checks will increasingly be applied (eg for Unique Learner Number (ULN)Learner Data Strategy is completely reliant on the ULNIn 2009/10 ILR W10 462k (29%) learners do not have a ULNUnder pre-election plans a new validation rule for 2010/11 will be built into the Learner Information Suite (LIS).September starts must have ULN by F02, else LIS errorsIf SFA can afford it, the OLDC will also audit for duplicates

TtG funding audit continues

Three things particularly on the ILR audit radar:

Data quality is also high on the agenda after Geoff Russell’s ‘data irregularity’ letter

> Changes to planned end dates> Use of the fee remission field (A14)> Use of the discount field (A51a)

Tip: Ensure you are using DSATs at least once per month, and where possible employer internal auditors

Summary and questions to take away> Data is funding, and as funding gets squeezed perhaps data will be scrutinised like never before> Increasingly ‘data standards’ will be referred to, & are likely to feature in contracts & performance frameworks> How well do you perform against ILR Spec Annex P?> What are the cost implications of improving data quality, at a time of cuts and ‘efficiencies’?

> Do know if you need help, and if so in what form? Staff, processes, software?

Bedtime reading

Look-out for our data conferences and funding masterclasses on www.pearsonresearchinstitute.com

SFA Guidance Notes 1-4

SFA and YPLA weekly

updates

www.fundingguide.co.ukwww.dataguide.co.uk

Thank you

To find out more about the Pearson Research Institute visitwww.pearsonresearchinstitute.com