Colleges facing new priorities and challenging times
Following the recent release of college budgets for 2005/06 there has been widespread criticism over the reduction in funding available for adult learning. The Government and LSC maintain that there has been a real increase in FE funding but that the priorities now are to support extra numbers of 16 -18 year olds, and the needs of employers and individuals in acquiring Basic Skills and vocational qualifications up to Level 2/3. The LSC admits it was slow to recognise the full implications of the Skills Agenda but in future it will be sharing planning assumptions earlier with providers. It has already stated that there will be further budget difficulties in 2006/07 as the number of learners supported in the priority groups grows.
Many colleges are left having to cut courses and staff for the next academic year in order to balance their budgets. They are free to increase the prices charged, but many feel that learners will not be willing to pay more.
Colleges are still left with the issue of ensuring they meet their targets set for the priority groups, or risk losing out in subsequent years. Local knowledge and data from their local LSC can help colleges target their recruitment efforts. This can be further improved by using Profiler along with data from the 2001 Census and the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2004 to locate neighbourhoods with low educational attainment and participation.
For further information on how Profiler can be used to improve your recruitment for 2005/06 and beyond, contact Daniel Clode on 0161 799 6250
CSS