Following the Foster Review of FE Colleges last November, the ICG wrote to Sir Andrew Foster supporting the key points of his report and this week received the below response.
"Sir Andrew's final report sets out a number of recommendations around greater clarity of purpose, attention to quality, improved leadership, some changes to the accountability arrangements to lighten the burden and a relentless focus on the needs of learners and employers.
The next step is that the government needs to take time to examine carefully all of the recommendations and their implications. We will do this in discussion with all partners who have an interest in the success of colleges. This is a major opportunity to make the changes needed to enable colleges to play their full role in the education and skills world.
In the light of that debate the Secretary of State for Education and Skills intends to set out how we will implement the next phase of FE reforms in the spring of 2006. Sir Andrew has asked me to thank you for the positive endorsement of his advice and challenges around information and support for learners."
The Institute will be increasing its level of responses in 2006 as we seek to further represent the views of members on key policy issues. | 
