A phrase we’ve heard a lot in the last few months is that there will ‘no going back to normal’ once the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided. But it’s worth noting some things never deviated from normal in the first place.
Into that category falls post-16 education, and specifically the UK Government’s over-centralised approach to skills policy making.
No two places within England have the exact same make-up of sectors, education and skills provision and current and future skills needs. When labour market requirements vary place by place, it does not make sense that so many of the powers and resources needed to shape local post-16 skills policy in England are still held at the national level.
New Local addresses this issue directly in our new report, No Strings Attached: How community-led devolution would transform England’s skills sector.
