11 December 2007
The WLGA will consider the report findings outlined today by Sir Adrian Webb which proposes radical changes to the way further education is delivered across Wales. The publication of the Webb Review looks at the delivery of post 16 education and also 14 – 19 learning pathways in Wales.
Cllr John Davies (Pembrokeshire), WLGA spokesperson for Lifelong Learning said:
“This wide reaching review contains over 130 recommendations. Obviously we’ll need to explore the individual recommendations in more detail and it will be up to the Welsh Assembly Government to decide whether and how to implement these.”
“However, local government broadly welcomes the headlines that were outlined by Sir Adrian and his team earlier today. This Review has placed local government firmly at the centre of future arrangements for further education and we welcome the role that we could play at a consortium and regional level.”
Cllr Davies added:
“As ever the devil is in the detail and given the current climate of budget pressures these proposals will need to be properly structured and more importantly sufficiently funded. Local government is keen to work closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, the further education sector and Fforwm and with employers to consider the recommendations in detail before accepting them and to develop a more in depth understanding of implementation.”
“The WLGA is also pleased to see that the Review considers further education in the context of the needs of employers in Wales and economic development and also in terms of the social benefits to learners.”
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For more information contact: Natasha Weeks