Colleges have been told to “deprioritise” their work with younger school pupils. In its new credit guidance to colleges, published today, the Scottish Funding Council said its priorities for the sector in the forthcoming academic year 2020-21 were “set in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to focus efforts on recovering from the health and economic crisis”.
“We recognise that different parts of Scotland and particular sectors of the economy will face their own specific challenges. This guidance aims to provide colleges with sufficient national-level direction, coupled with the flexibility to respond to the regional needs of learners, business and local communities, and to align provision and activity to the recovery mission, with urgency,” said the SFC.
The SFC provides funding to colleges and college regions that undertake to deliver a specified volume of activity measured in credits, and today’s guidance sets out the core principles for eligibility for credit funding, and the programmes and students eligible for credit funding.
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Shifting provision
It introduces a number of flexibilities, but states that to help colleges shift their provision to allow for additional demand for mainstream provision aimed at future skills areas and provide shorter re-training, re-skilling and upskilling courses “we require colleges to deprioritise school college activity outwith senior phase, as well as additional units to full-time FE students, “unless they are in response to Covid-19 i.e. deferred units or deemed essential in terms of future employability or progress to higher education”.
“SFC is aware that colleges/regions also work with school pupils at other levels and deliver credit bearing activity. This activity helps to address gender imbalance in learning and the needs of Stem. However, for AY 2020-21 we expect colleges to deprioritise this activity in order to focus on provision that addresses the needs of the economy in the post Covid-19 recovery period. SFC expects, therefore, that credits claimed for school college activity in this coming year will be for senior phase (S4 to S6) including vocational courses and Highers and Advanced Highers.
“There may also be some additional activity for learners at S3 that relates to vocational pathways. We appreciate that there may be curriculum plans already in place and that, particularly in rural and remote areas, this may ensure school pupils have access to a range of subjects. We therefore expect that there may still be some delivery to school pupils at other levels but we would expect this to reduce nationally.”
According to the SFC, industries and key areas that anticipate skills shortages, either pre-existing or COVID-related, include construction, digital tech, food, drink and agriculture, health and social care, and early years. “It is likely that re-skilling and upskilling programmes may need to prioritise these particular sectors.”
“We recognise the challenges facing colleges in AY 2020-21, in terms of the choices to be made, the existing curriculum plans in place, and the need to return balanced budgets. We will continue to work with colleges and our partner agencies to support colleges through this difficult time, to ensure we can all make a difference for Scotland’s recovery.”
Karen Watt, chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “The guidance we have issued today will support colleges to continue to align their activities towards economic recovery. It recognises the crucial role colleges play in meeting the needs of learners, businesses and communities across Scotland and their ability to respond quickly and effectively to the challenging times ahead.”
