This report from the 2020 Public Sector Hub at the RSA was commissioned by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service. It challenges the sector to shape and create a radical future.

Big changes are happening across the spectrum of public services. The Coalition Government, driven by a determination to reform within the context of massive spending cuts, is reshaping the way public services are designed, delivered and accounted for. All parts of the further education sector, from colleges of further education and sixth form colleges, to adult community learning services and work based learning providers, will be affected by these changes.

The report calls on the sector to take advantage of its new found freedoms by breaking away from a narrow ‘delivery of qualifications’ role to place more emphasis on citizen engagement, interaction with employers and civic leadership. For FE to be transformative in 2020, the report recommends that the FE sector follows new directions which include incubating social value and driving public service integration.

The report is available for download.