Below is a list of useful partners for this site. Clicking on their links will open their site in a new window:
ALP - Association of Learning Providers
The purpose of the Association of Learning Providers is to influence the education and training agenda to secure:
- A national skills strategy that meets the needs of employers and learners
- A 14-19 learning curriculum where academic and vocational options are equally valued
- Opportunities for learning throughout life to give everyone a chance to succeed
- A government-supported learning market open to all providers offering high quality learning
BAC - British Accreditation Council
BAC is a registered charity (non-profit-making organisation) which was established in 1984 to act as the national accrediting body for independent further and higher education. It is independent both of government and of the colleges with which it accredits.
Careers Advice Service
Careers Advice offer practical advice to help you make the right career choices whether you want to learn new skills, change career or return to work.
CCEA - Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment
CCEA places itself at the heart of the Northern Ireland community ensuring its products and services meet the needs of all learners.
BIS - Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
To compete in a global economy and create the jobs of the future, Britain requires a regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and world-class science and research. The merger of BERR and DIUS brings together the parts of the government with key expertise in these areas.
Department for Education
The Department for Education was formed on 12 May 2010 and is responsible for education and children's services.
DELNI - Department for Employment & Learning Northern Ireland
The Department is one of the key channels through which the Northern Ireland Executive is working towards a vision of a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, stable and fair society.
It is responsible for third level education, training and a range of employment measures, all aimed at giving people the skills, knowledge and opportunities to work.
EduBase
The up to date database of educational establishments across England and Wales.
From nurseries through to colleges, EduBase lets you search for establishments by name, location or type. So, whether you're looking for a specific single school or college or for more than one establishment meeting your criteria, EduBase can help.
Federation of Awarding Bodies
They are a membership body, representing organisations that award vocational qualifications in the UK.
Their activities are focussed on achieving a vocational qualification system that meets the differing needs of candidates, employers, education and training providers and awarding bodies as well as offering good value to funding bodies and taxpayers.
Their members range from organisations that are well known for offering vocational qualifications for a particular industry, to larger generic awarding bodies offering vocational qualifications across a wide range of sectors.
HEFCE - Higher Education Funding Council for England
Working in partnership, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) promotes and funds high-quality, cost-effective teaching and research, meeting the diverse needs of students, the economy and society.
Higher Education Statistics Agency
HESA was setup in 1993 following a Government White Paper 'Higher Education: A New Framework', which called for more coherence in higher education statistics.
HESA is now the central source for higher education statistics and has standardised and streamlined the data collection and publication process to become a respected point of reference.
Jobcentre Plus
This Jobcentre Plus website provides help for customers in finding jobs and information about benefits to people of working age, training and how to apply for a job.
For employers there is information on placing a vacancy with Jobcentre Plus and what Jobcentre Plus services are available to them.
For organisations that work with Jobcentre Plus there is information on current Tendering Exercises and Jobcentre Plus services.
Jobcentre Plus is part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Lantra
As a Sector Skills Council, Lantra is an employer-led organisation, licensed by government to represent the interests of over 360,000 businesses and 1.5 million workers in the environmental and land-based industries in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
learndirect
At learndirect you can find:
- hundreds of specially created online courses in computers, office skills and self development, designed so that you can learn at a time, place and pace to suit your needs.
- information on our network of over 1,500 learndirect centres to help you with your local learning needs
- impartial information and advice on over 900,000 courses from providers throughout the UK
- courses and services designed to help you, your business or your employees
learndirect - see what you can achieve...
LSIS - Learning and Skills Improvement Service
The Learning and Skills Improvement Service is the new sector-owned body, formed from CEL and QIA to develop excellent and sustainable FE provision across the sector. LSIS will work in partnership with all parts of the sector to provide vision, leadership, clarity and high quality support; practising and enabling continuous self-improvement and capacity building.
Learning Records Service
The Learning Records Service, part of Information Management (IM) Services, provides shared services across the education sector. The Learning Records Service is built on the principle of collect once, use many times and used by all that are entitled to do so. It supports the whole of the education sector.
For more information, visit http://www.miap.gov.uk/
Lifelong Learning
OFSTED
Ofsted inspects and regulates to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages.
ODLQC: Open and Distance Learning Quality Control
Established by government in 1968, but now wholly independent, the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODL QC) is the principal body for the accreditation of open and distance learning providers in the UK
QCDA - Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency
We want to make sure that everyone can get the knowledge, skills and qualifications they need for life in the 21st century. We believe in the power of education to transform people's lives and to make society better and fairer for everyone.
QAA - The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
QAA checks how UK universities maintain their own academic standards and quality. We review and report on how they meet their responsibilities, identify good practice and make recommendations for improvement. We publish guidelines to help UK universities and colleges develop effective systems to ensure students have the best learning experience.
Skills Funding Agency
Student Loans Company
The Student Loans Company administers government-funded loans and grants to students throughout the United Kingdom.
It is responsible, in partnership with Local Authorities in England and Wales, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, the Education and Library boards in Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Institutions and HM Revenue & Customs, for student support delivery in the UK.
UCAS: Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
UCAS is the central organisation that processes applications for full-time undergraduate courses at UK universities and colleges
WAG - Department of Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills
The Department aims to improve children's services, education and training provision to secure better outcomes for learners, business, and employers as set out in our strategic document, The Learning Country. It helps empower children, young people and adults through education and training to enjoy a better quality of life.
In the context of the Welsh Assembly Government's wider strategic agenda, set out in Wales: A Better Country and Iaith Pawb, the Department's key objectives include:
- Promoting high expectations and performance for all learners and having effective regulation, inspection and support.
- Ensuring that all children and young people have a flying start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development.
- Having properly accommodated, funded and well-governed education establishments which meet the demand for places, deliver high standards of education and offer facilities for the community.
- Promoting inclusion, reducing disadvantage and tackling poverty of educational opportunity.
- Ensuring that the education system in Wales has excellent practitioners who are supported and developed to deliver for learners.
- Funding and developing post-16 provision, aside from HE, throughout Wales, with targeting of low (including basic), intermediate and high skill levels to enable more individuals, communities and employers to succeed in Wales.
- Securing high-quality higher education whilst maximising its economic, social and cultural impact on learners and the wider community.
- Delivering financial support to students and other learners in partnership with key stakeholders
