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Questions and Answers

CoVE

What do CoVEs do?
When an area of provision attains CoVE status it means that it is able to develop new, and enhance existing, specialist vocational provision that will be focused on meeting skills needs of employers locally, regionally, nationally and sectorally. It will give individuals from all backgrounds access to the high quality vocational training that they need to succeed in a modern economy.

What kind of providers have applied to join the CoVE Programme?
To be eligible to apply for CoVE status a provider must have:

  • been in receipt of direct funding from the Learning and Skills Council (the LSC);
  • agreed with its local LSC the vocational skills needs which the proposed CoVE will address;
  • have at least 50 FTE learners in the vocational skills need at level 3;
  • have demonstrably sound management and financial status.

How is level 3 defined?
Level 3 is defined as specific provision of training in occupational skills needed in intermediate jobs ranging from craft to associate professional occupations. The qualification that most commonly applies in CoVE is the national vocational qualification 3 (NVQ 3).

What are the objectives of the CoVE programme?
The programme's overall objectives are to:

  • increase the number of adults qualified in economically important vocational skills at level 3;
  • encourage greater collaboration amongst providers;
  • secure better vocational learning opportunities for all; 
  • increase employer/provider engagement;

What are the priorities of CoVE programmes?
The programme is aimed chiefly at adults (19+). It is concerned with equipping adult learners to progress into employment and to achieve advancement within employment by helping them upgrade their skills in vocationally important specialisms at level 3.

How are CoVEs monitored and assessed?
Once on the CoVE programme, individual CoVEs will be monitored against the CoVE criteria outlined in the Assessment and Performance section of this website and on their progress towards the targets and milestones described in their development plan.
At the end of their first year, each CoVE will be assessed to determine whether Full CoVE status can be awarded.

Does this mean that Full CoVE status is not awarded immediately?
When first joining the CoVE programme, the centre is given 'Interim' CoVE status. This status is normally awarded for the first 12 months, prior to an assessment against the CoVE Criteria which will, if successful, lead to confirmation of Full CoVE status.

How long does CoVE status last?
The first year (Interim Status) is the development year, when the CoVE will work to realise the objectives in its development plan. At the end of this first year, subject to an assessment against the programme criteria, 'Full' CoVE status will be formally confirmed. After around 3 years of Full CoVE Status the CoVE will enter the CoVE Re-confirmation Process

Is the CoVE programme evaluated?
The CoVE programme is evaluated against the programme objectives and the programme's criteria and key outcomes.

The results of earlier evaluations have been published on the website under Programme Evaluation. These reports identify characteristics of successful CoVEs and provide examples of good practice. Further evaluation will be conducted throughout the life of the programme.

 

CoVE and NSA

How do National Skills Academies fit with CoVES?
National Skills Academies will be national centres, CoVEs focus mainly on local and regional skills needs, working together overtime they will be able to create sector based networks of specialist provision. The LSC is currently reviewing the further development of the CoVE programme. A key aim of the review is to ensure National Skills Academies and the maturing CoVE network are integrated to provide a clear offer of high quality provision to employers/learners.
We are not being prescriptive about the most appropriate model for a National Skills Academy , but we do expect that some proposals will include CoVEs.

Will National Skills Academies re-brand existing CoVEs?
No. This is an exciting and challenging approach drawing on the best demand-led approaches developed in other countries. However we expect that CoVEs will be key partners in the formation of a number of National Skills Academies and that all Skills Academies will work with a network of sector based CoVEs. We want to identify and develop those institutions offering real vocational excellence in their training provision, recognised as such by employers.

Who exactly can sponsor a National Skills Academy?
Sponsors will be either an individual employer or groups of employers. The sponsors will need to work very closely with their Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). They will bring a record of success in business which they will be able to share with experienced learning providers.

Are enough employers interested in becoming sponsors?
Yes - all the signs are positive. We know there are a number of employers and SSCs that are very excited about this approach and are already working up ideas. We also know from research on the CoVE network that those employers who use CoVEs value the flexible training offered, the availability of specialist staff, and high quality equipment and facilities. The opportunity, therefore, to get involved with an NSA is likely to be very attractive

Does the timescale for Expressions of Interest for the first tranche puts CoVEs at a disadvantage?
The timing is tight for the first tranche - but there is great enthusiasm to get on with it and we are aware that some CoVEs and other providers have already been talking with SSCs about their ideas. Sectors which have developed Sector Skills Agreements (SSAs) are more advanced with plans for developing provision that best meets their needs. It is important to note that we will work with sectors at the speed which delivers the highest level of engagement from all relevant partners

Will National Skills Academies demonstrate a 'national reach'?
A whole variety of operational models are possible - National Skills Academies are demand led and will be organised to suit needs of particular sectors. But we are going to ask all Skills Academies to set out how they plan to develop 'national reach'. This could be achieved by the Skills Academy having a number of satellites or spokes - likely to be CoVEs, colleges or Work Based Learning (WBL) providers. These spokes could deliver the curriculum at local or regional locations

Does every National Skills Academy have to cover an entire sector?
No. We recognise that we must be flexible. National Skills Academies will develop their business model overtime so that they are sustainable. A new organisation will not be able to do everything that might be expected of a well established, mature organisation. We see National Skills Academies growing over time, both in what each one does and in their networking. It is for the sponsors and their partners to determine their priorities.

Will every sector have to have a National Skills Academy ?
The Skills White Paper set out our intention to develop an initial network of 12 National Skills Academies by 2008, with a view to establishing over time at least one for each major sector of the economy. We expect SSCs to take a leading role in developing a National Skills Academy if that is what the sector considers is required.

How closely will National Skills Academies follow the model being developed by the Fashion Retail Academy ?
The models for National Skills Academy which sponsors and SSCs propose will vary between sectors. There is not a one size fits all solution, and we welcome new and innovative ideas In developing the Fashion Retail Academy , the Arcadia group have been clear about the requirements for their sector. We would similarly expect other employers in other sectors to develop proposals which meet the needs of their sector

Will all employers be expected to contribute to the same level?
No. Sponsorship funding is a crucial part of ensuring the success of National Skills Academies. It is for each sector to determine with its employers the level of investment required to address the skills development needs. But financial sponsorship is only part of the contribution which sponsors make. Their vision and the commitment which they and their networks and organisations make to the design of the education and training delivered and to the leadership of the National Skills Academy are also important.

What level of public funding is available for the development of National Skills Academies?
All National Skills Academies will be established with significant funds from employers. Capital projects will be supported by the LSC. Revenue funding will come from a variety of sources including employers and the LSC.

There will be a period of development from acceptance of the expression of interest to the organisations being fully established and in a viable and sustainable financial position. Each proposal for a National Skills Academy will need to be developed into a robust business plan which must cover what level of on-going financial support from employers will be expected.

Will Skills Academies attract new money or is it part of the existing LSC resource for colleges?
There will be new money from sponsors

Should we be stating who the potential sponsors are. Will the public investment come from existing LSC resources?
The LSC should be looking to use its budget to fund the best provision in the best providers, not merely sustaining a historic pattern of allocations.

Will National Skills Academies be allowed the time to develop into true national centres of excellence?
There is evidence from the CoVE programme that Centres of Vocational Excellence take time before they operate at their optimum level, often at least a year after becoming established. The specific objectives for National Skills Academies will be set by the sector. We realise that many of the skills issues faced by sectors cannot be addressed easily or quickly. However, National Skills Academies will be about responding directly to the needs of employers and individuals and we expect that each will have a clear plan for improving the supply of skilled people to its sector.

How will National Skills Academies select students and learners?
We expect all National Skills Academies to ensure that suitable action is taken to identify and address issues of learner equality and diversity. They will help broaden the base of recruitment into the sector by tackling the obstacles and barriers faced by some groups in gaining access to training and jobs in different sectors.

What kinds of qualifications/levels of provision will National Skills Academies deliver?
National Skills Academies will prioritise those skills that are most important to employers. We would expect them, in time, to work with partners to address the full range of skills needs in the sector, including functional and employability skills, intermediate skills, higher skills and, where necessary, leadership and management skills at level 3 and above. SSCs are already working with QCA to develop Sector Qualification Strategies which will ensure that qualifications cover the skills needed by employers and offer appropriate progression routes for learners with different existing skill sets and ambitions.

There are lots of "Academies" around, how are National Skills Academies different?
There are similarities in that all forms of academies have a specialism and sponsors who will invest funds and will be involved in their strategic management. However, National Skills Academies will be focused on vocational education and skills training, delivering a tailor-made curriculum to young people (16-19 year olds) and adults and be sector-based centres of excellence with national reach.

A total of 17 School Academies are already open. A further 10 open in September 2005 with plans for 200 open or in the pipeline by 2010. School Academies are publicly funded independent local schools for local children which offer both academic and vocational studies to pupils of all abilities, up to the age of 19, focussing on one or more specialist subject areas (). School Academies are located in some of the most disadvantaged areas and help raise standards and challenge the culture of educational underachievement via innovative approaches to management, governance, teaching and the curriculum with facilities in line with the very best in the maintained sector.

Additionally, there are plans for up to five 16-19 Academies in London which will add to the diversity of 16-19 provision where there has traditionally been low participation and attainment among young people. They will be set up as FE Colleges while having the ethos and governance of an Academy. The curriculum will be aimed at disengaged learners and encouraging young people who may not have participated in post-16 education.

If you want to know more about these other forms of academies then contact The Sponsorship Team, Academies Division, DfES tel 0207 925 6337 or log on to www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/academies .