Seminar 1.2 stephen nicholls

1. Learning Technologies-
Post FELTAG
Steve Nichols
Funding Policy Implementation Manager
Stephen.Nichols@sfa.bis.gov.uk

2. Our role in adapting the
funding system to move the
sector forward

3. Within the Government response to FELTAG the Agency has
a number of actions focussed on removing obstacles/barriers
to online learning.
These actions fall into three categories:
– Collection of information and evidence
– Funding policy / system changes
– ‘Encouraging’ the greater adoption of technology in the
sector.
Introduction

4. Action: Pilot Activity
Following a consultation and a call to interested parties we
will be working with a small number of providers in AY 14/15
to test and identify any barriers or opportunities within the
skills funding system focussing on:
• Success rates
• Agency Funding Rules
• Agency audit
We are also expecting to gather evidence on:
• Awarding body assessment requirements
• Ofsted Inspection

5. Pilot Activity:
Progress
• Consultative event in August
• Invited interested organisations to submit initial
proposals to work with the Agency and other
stakeholders on specific online learning pilots.
• Initial pilot initiation meetings are being held
during November to develop objectives and
outcomes.

6. Action - Introduction
of new ILR field
• The Agency will add a new field to the Individual
Learner Record (ILR) specification through which it
will collect information on the proportion of online
delivery.

7. Progress – Intro.
of new ILR field
• The Agency has introduced a new field in the
14/15 ILR to collect evidence on the current
proportion of curriculum design delivered by
computer mediated activity rather than by a
lecturer.
• This is only to collect evidence.
• It will not affect funding in AY 14/15 or AY 15/16
and it will not form part of a providers audit.

8. Action – Temperature
Check
• The Agency will undertake a temperature check
of current Agency providers to understand what
the current baseline of online delivery might be.
• This intelligence will be used to supplement data
collected through the ILR.

9. Progress: Temp
Check
• Survey launched via Provider Update in October
to collect data for this temperature check.
• The results of this survey will be used to support
discussions and activity with regard any future
policy development.
• Intend to repeat this survey at regular intervals in
order to monitor progress.

10. Action: Online Only
Funding Rate
• From 2015/16 the Agency will introduce an online
funding rate. This rate will be announced in
Autumn 2014.

11. Progress: Online Only
Funding Rate
Considered but concluded:
• it would be inappropriate to establish a rate prior to data
and intelligence being available from previous actions.
Before considering the rationale and potential benefits of
introducing an online funding rate the Agency will:
• continue to collect the necessary data and intelligence
• consult further with the sector.
Timelines for reporting of both pilots and ILR means the
Agency will make proposals during 15/16 with a view to
potential implementation in 16/17.

12. Online only Funding
Rate - Challenges
Determine if online funding rates are
feasible/practical?
Some challenges here;
• Would the rate be higher/lower than existing rate?
• How would that affect the market?
• Does not fit into our current system, we don’t
currently specify delivery method-we pay on
outcome
• In the context of reducing Adult Skills Budget

13. Action: introduce a
business rule
• The Agency will introduce a business rule for the
approval of qualifications for funding focussing on
an online threshold
• Intended to encourage (but not restrict) awarding
organisations to design qualifications to use
learning technologies as a core component

14. Progress: introduce
a business rule
• 2014/15 technical guidance for awarding organisations
confirms:
“our policy is that Government funding should support
an offer that is vocationally focussed and responsive to
new and changing skills as well as having the flexibility
to encourage innovation through the use of new
technology both in delivery and assessment”.
• The Agency will continue to consult with awarding bodies
to identify barriers to the development of suitable
qualifications meeting this criteria.

15. Action: Percentage
of online delivery
• We will work with the sector and relevant
stakeholders in AY 14/15 and 15/16 to establish
how the FELTAG online percentage aspirations
(10-50%) can be established within the funding
system

16. Progress: Percentage
of online delivery
• We will establish evidence through the pilots, ILR
data and sector consultation during 14/15 and
15/16 to determine which qualification and
curriculum areas are appropriate in this context.
• There are no plans to audit or make funding
judgments on providers with regards the 10-50%
aspiration for the foreseeable future.

17. Percentage of online
delivery - Clarification
The intention of FELTAG, and the Government's response to it, is to
encourage greater use of digital technologies and a better 'blend' of online
and traditional face to face delivery to engage learners more effectively
and ensure greater value for money for everyone from the FE and Skills
budget. We stand by this ambition.
To take this forward we need to establish the current levels of online
provision and hence the Skills Funding Agency is undertaking activity to
support this. The Agency will be collecting this evidence over the next
year and will not be considering making any changes to the funding
system until at least 2016/17.

18. Action 4- Online
Learning- Definitions
•Remote Learning completed away from the
classroom, with no face-to-face engagement
between tutor and learner.
•Mix of remote online learning and face-to-face
delivery
•The mix of online and face-to-face delivery in a
classroom/workshop
•The mix of online and face-to-face delivery across a
range of contexts-classroom/workplace
If we are to link this to funding we must be clear
which definition we are using!

19. 18-21 Work Skills
Pilots
A brief summary

20. Objectives
To evaluate the impact on employment outcomes
and skills development of systematically mandating
new JSA 18-21 year old young people (who have
below level 2 in English and/or maths) to undertake
English and maths GCSE or Functional Skills.
The necessary learning will be delivered through
either a ‘blended’ or ‘pure’ online offer only.

21. Scope
• Learning period max 6 months
• 5 regions
• Target 10,000 learners (additional 5,000 control
group)
• Learning 16 hours per week max

22. Learning Definitions
Online learning:
• The ‘blended’ online learning will be defined as
‘pre-dominantly online but a combination of online
learning with face-to-face support from a tutor’.
• ‘Pure’ Online - for the purposes of this pilot the
‘pure’ online learning will be defined as ‘100%
online learning with virtual support only from a
tutor’.
• The key element that will differentiate the ‘blended’
offer from the ‘pure’ online offer will be the physical
presence of a tutor for support when required.

23. Evaluation
• The pilot will be evaluated through a Randomised
Controlled Trial commissioned through an
independent Research Company.
• An objective of the pilot is to test and agree the
cost efficiency and funding arrangements of new
online delivery models and will help inform our
thinking on future funding arrangements.

24. Questions and close