The Framework for Excellence

The Framework for Excellence (the Framework) is a quantitative assessment of performance across all providers, which will provide an accurate, independent picture of the performance of the Further Education (FE) sector, validated and supported by published data. It will apply to all FE colleges and work-based learning providers from September 2008, and it will be operational across the whole FE sector from September 2009.

The Framework provides a means for colleges and providers to measure themselves against standards of excellence, which have been grouped into three areas: Responsiveness, Effectiveness and Finance. Most of the information exists already and will be analysed by the LSC from, for example, providers’ financial records, evidence of progression to further study or employment, the Individualised Learner Records (ILR), Qualification Success Rates (QSR), and Ofsted grades.

The Framework has been designed to complement providers’ self-assessment processes and, by aligning their processes to the Framework, providers will have to ensure the quality and responsiveness of their provision to two key groups of stakeholders: Employers and Learners.

Ultimately, the Framework will provide evidence to give the FE sector the opportunity to demonstrate that it is rigorously and effectively self-regulating, and it is a significant step towards meeting the challenges laid down by the Leitch report and securing the reputation of the sector as a whole.