Learning and Skills Network

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Learning and Skills Network (LSN) is an independent not-for-profit organisation delivering quality improvement and staff development programmes that support specific government initiatives, through research, training and consultancy; and by supplying services directly to schools, colleges and training organisations. LSN provides services to policy-makers, to organisations that fund, manage and provide education, and to individual providers and practitioners across education and training.

Programmes support learning providers – their leaders, managers, teachers and trainers, to meet the challenges they face as our sector grows and develops. Funded by QIA, the DfES and the Learning and Skills Council among others, each programme is designed to support a particular priority. For example, the Support for Success programme works within the sector to improve quality as a part of Success for All, the government's long-term programme of investment and reform for the learning and skills sector.

Research

LSN's research and evaluation team focuses its work on sector priorities, including planning and funding, widening participation, technology and learning, and major programme evaluation. Research supports policy-makers at a national or regional level by providing evidence about what works, and aids practitioners by highlighting and disseminating good practice.

Training and consultancy

Most services from LSN are funded by government agencies and delivered free. They are also developing a range of training and consultancy solutions. For example, developing in-house training on implementing RARPA, support for partnership working, and support for implementing the new Disability Equality Duty – amongst many others.

LSN is one of the two successor organisations to the Learning and Skills Development Agency, taking forward LSDA's training, consultancy, research and service delivery activities. Launched in April 2006, LSN builds on over 25 years of work with the sector through its predecessor organisations.

In 1995 two organisations merged, the Further Education Unit – a development agency that tackled curriculum issues – and the Staff College , which acted to develop the staff of the FE sector. This new organisation, the Further Education Development Agency (FEDA), brought these two areas together to ensure mutual support for these activities. FEDA was renamed the Learning and Skills Development Agency in November 2000 to reflect its widening remit across the learning and skills sector. LSDA's programmes, research, training and consultancy continue as normal under the banner of the Learning and Skills Network (LSN). LSDA's policy and strategic work has developed into the Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA).

LSN's board provides a wide range of experience and expertise that supports LSN to promote excellence in learning and skills.

The current board members are:

Mr Chris Hughes CBE (Chair)

Mr Chris Blythe

Mrs Kate Griffin

Mr Bill Stokoe

Dr Ursula Howard

Professor Mike Thorne

Dr David Collins

Ms Sharon White

Mr Andy Westwood

Ms Christine Whatford