Known unknown – post the Technical and Further Education Bill

Awarding Organisations know a lot about proceeding with caution, about testing and piloting things before they go live; about consulting and asking for feedback; about using independent individuals to check our thinking on developments; making sure there is no conflicts of interest; doing impact assessments; about making measured plans to implement or withdraw qualifications or tests. We are also encouraged to reflect on experience and practice, to learn from it. These kinds of things are in the DNA of AOs as ways of working.

It’s with some irony then that the Technical and Further Education Bill which is progressing through Committee stage will bring into being the ambitions of the Government’s Post 16 Skills Plan and the Sainsbury Report, seem not to have done much, or any of the above.  

I am sighing at I write this but rather than continuing to talk about what has been, and is lacking, I’ve been trying to think about what we need to do next.

I’ve been hinting already in previous blogs that Governing Bodies should be challenging the AO’s strategy – what comes after being an AO? What other business can the AO be in? Is there a role as an EPA (end point assessment) organisation? Although the latter could easily be a moving feast in the near future too.

Corporates in the face of major change often start by doing some business modelling. Looking at the way the AO could generate income in a changed world, what that would mean for the business and operating structures? Obviously, models are theoretical but nevertheless can help fuel some good creativity and add some sense of at least looking at other options.

Training products and delivery, providing expertise and consultancy for a sector, exporting and not working on home turf are obvious options for AOs. For smaller AOs the same options could apply but it may also mean a need to forge partnerships and alliances.  

Also, there will always be space in the UK for ‘non-IfATE regulated, non-government funded qualifications, particularly in some sectors. 

Thinking about a different kind of future need not mean caving in. We need some more information to work with though, together we need to push more for that too.

Heather Venis

Principal, Awarding First

If you would like someone to work with on your thinking about the changes and implications, please give me a call or drop me an email.

E: heather@awardingfirst.co.uk

M: 0789 479 6262.

Watch for my next blog in the new year, 6th January. Unless we get a major announcement on this subject!