14 - 19

The Government Office for London [GOL] works collaboratively with the DCSF and a wide range of partners to support local authorities implement the 14-19 reforms agenda as set out in the 14-19 Education and Skills White Paper 

The changes are designed to equip young people for the fast changing world they are growing up in and offer exciting choices and opportunities to equip them for adult life and help them enjoy a brighter future.

Central to the reforms is the introduction of the Diplomas and GOL is supporting local authorities, through the Gateway process, to ensure London’s readiness to deliver the new Diplomas.

London has enjoyed considerable success following the first two Diploma Gateways, which are chaired by GOL and have been designed to rigorously ensure high quality delivery of Diplomas from the outset.

Schools and colleges from 18 of the local areas in London will be delivering one or more of the first five Diplomas from September 2008 [Construction, Creative & Media, Engineering, IT and Society, Health & Development]. This rises to 29 in September 2009 when the next five Diplomas become available [Business, Administration & Finance, Hair & Beauty Studies, Hospitality, Environmental & Land-based Studies, and Manufacturing & Product Design].

Further details of the local partnerships that will be offering Diplomas in London from September 2008 and September 2009 can be found here 

A full list of learning opportunities for all 14-19 year olds in London is available on the Choice website the first regional online prospectus of its kind.

As part of the wider reform programme, the system for funding and commissioning of post-16 learning is changing. Following publication of the Government’s White Paper ‘Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver’ GOL will be supporting partners with responsibility for ensuring the smooth transition to the new arrangements which will see local authorities take on funding and commissioning of all post-16 provision, ensuring a more integrated approach to delivery of all Children’s Services from ages 0-19.

We are working with representatives from the Association of London Directors for Children’s Services, with London Councils and the LSC, to identify the most appropriate way for London of managing the transfer of funding and responsibility for commissioning post-16 provision from the LSC to local authorities.

For more information on the national reforms see the DCSF website for 14-19 education and skills