INCA Education around the world
Wales : Organisation/control of education system
- 2.1 Organisation and control of system/structure
- 2.1.1 Control
- 2.1.2 Funding
- 2.1.3 Private sector education
2.1 Organisation and control of system/structure
This information is intended to provide the background context of structure and control, within which the curriculum and assessment frameworks are implemented.
2.1.1 Control
The National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) has overall responsibility for administering the education system in Wales, for implementing legislation, and for formulating secondary legislation. Primary legislation-making powers rest with the UK Parliament based in London.45
Responsibility for different aspects of the education service is, however, shared between central government, local government, churches and other voluntary bodies, the governing bodies of educational institutions and the teaching profession. Central authorities have the power to intervene if individual local education authorities (LEAs) or the governing bodies of educational institutions do not discharge their duties satisfactorily.44
The provision of publicly-financed education in maintained schools has traditionally been the responsibility of local councils, which have designated responsibility as LEAs. Proposals to make significant changes to schools, such as closure or amalgamation, require public consultation and, in cases where objections are registered, final decisions are determined by the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW).45,6
For LEA-maintained schools, the responsibility for financial and related administration, maintenance of schools, and the appointment, management, appraisal and dismissal of teachers is delegated from LEAs to the school governing bodies of the individual schools.6
Pre-compulsory
Prior to the introduction of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998,3 local education authorities (LEAs) and school governing bodies made nursery provision available for children aged between 2 and 5 if they wished. LEAs did not have a statutory obligation to offer this provision, although they did have a duty to secure appropriate provision for children aged between 2 and 5 who were identified as having special educational needs (SEN).45
The School Standards and Framework Act 19983 has since imposed a statutory duty on LEAs to ensure that provision of nursery education in their area is sufficient to meet the needs of all resident children below statutory school age, but above an age specified in regulations laid down under the Act. The lower age limit was initially set at 4. The LEA did not have to provide the nursery places itself and the provision did not have to be full-time. The statutory duty to ensure provision for all 4-year-olds whose parents request it came into effect in April 1999. Since 2004, LEAs have been required, in addition, to provide a half-time, funded place in early years provision for all 3-year-olds whose parents request one. 45, 145
Provision is ensured by Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships. Established by the LEA, these often involve the private and voluntary sectors working as pre-school education providers in collaboration with LEAs, and consequently receiving some government funding. To receive government funding, all early education settings which form part of an Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership must work towards the Desirable Learning Outcomes (for children's learning by the time they reach compulsory school age).45 See sections 3.2.1 and 5.1 in addition.
Further education
Further education is defined as education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age (16 years) (unless it is provided in a school which also educates students of compulsory school age). Further education also includes vocational, social, physical and recreational training.10
The National Assembly for Wales (NAfW) is responsible for the broad direction of policy, whilst, as a result of the Learning and Skills Act 2000,1 a new body, known as Education and Learning Wales (ELWa), now has responsibility for the funding and provision of all post-16 education and training in Wales, including higher education. ELWa combines the National Council for Education and Training for Wales and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. Further information is available via the ELWa website at http://www.elwa.ac.uk/
At institutional level, administration in the further education sector is the responsibility of the individual institution's corporation or governing body, the head of the corporation (known as the principal), and its senior management. The principal is responsible for the organisation, direction and management of the institution, including the determination of academic activities (after consulting the academic board, where appropriate) and for student discipline.44
2.1.2 Funding
Pre-compulsory
The source of funding varies according to the type of setting:
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Nursery education in nursery schools which are maintained schools and nursery classes in maintained schools. |
Publicly-funded (via LEA) |
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Reception classes of primary schools which are maintained schools |
Publicly-funded (via LEA) |
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Private day nurseries |
Parental fees, but some government funding is available for 3- and 4-year-olds if the nursery belongs to an Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (see 2.1.1 and 3.2.1). |
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Private schools |
Parental fees, but some government funding is available for 3- and 4-year-olds if the nursery belongs to an Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (see 2.1.1 and 3.2.1). |
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Playgroups |
Parental fees, but playgroups often pay below market rents for their premises and some groups receive public subsidy. Some also receive government funding for 3- and 4-year-olds if the playgroup is a member of an Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (see 2.1.1 and 3.2.1). |
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Local authority day nurseries |
Publicly-funded, but some parents pay fees. |
Since April 1999, local education authorities (LEAs) have had a statutory duty to provide a "good quality, free" (that is, government-funded), part-time "nursery place for all 4-year-olds whose parents request one". This does not have to be in an LEA-maintained nursery school or a nursery class in a primary school, but in any facility ensuring provision in collaboration with the LEA as part of an Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (see 2.1.1 and 3.2.1) (e.g. a private or voluntary day nursery or pre-school playgroup). In 2004, this requirement was extended to all 3-year-olds whose parents request a nursery place. 45
Primary and secondary
LEA-maintained schools
Most publicly-funded schools are maintained by local education authorities (LEAs).45
The LEAs meet their expenditure partly from locally raised revenue and partly from general grants received from central government. Most LEA-maintained schools receive 100 per cent funding for both current and capital expenditure. Voluntary-aided schools receive 100 per cent funding for recurrent costs and are eligible for around 85 per cent funding for capital expenditure; the remainder being the responsibility of the founding body, usually a religious organisation.45
Further education
Following the implementation of the Further and Higher Education Act 199210 , further education institutions (further education colleges, sixth form colleges and tertiary colleges) in Wales were mainly funded by central government through the Further Education Funding Council for Wales (FEFCW). A block allocation of recurrent funding was paid to each further education institution every year. Colleges could receive additional income from student fees or by marketing their services.44 Since the introduction of the Learning and Skills Act1 in 2000, the role of the FEFCW has been replaced by Education and Learning Wales (ELWa). This new organisation is responsible for the planning and funding of all post-16 provision in Wales, including higher education.45 ELWa combines the National Council for Education and Training for Wales and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales. Further information is available via the ELWa website at http://www.elwa.ac.uk/
2.1.3 Private sector education
In general, private education is that which is provided in institutions which are largely privately-funded, receiving most of their income from tuition fees. There is private provision at all levels of education in Wales.45
Pre-compulsory
Private provision at this stage may take the form of day nurseries, (pre-school) play-groups, privately-run nursery schools, and nursery classes in independent schools. Independent schools must be registered with the National Assembly for Wales (NAfW). Under the Children Act 1989,12 private nursery schools and day nurseries must also be registered with the Social Services Department of the local authority.45 The division between public and private provision at this level of education has recently become less distinct, as a result of government policy to expand and develop publicly-funded early years education, by cooperation with the private and voluntary sectors.45 Although private day nurseries and private schools are largely funded by parental fees, as a result of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998,3 local education authority (LEA) funding is available to all providers (in the voluntary, private and maintained sectors) named in LEA Early Years Development and Childcare Plans as belonging to an Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, and as ensuring provision for 3- and 4-year-old children.45, 62 See sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in addition. Playgroups are also largely funded by parental fees, although some receive public subsidy via the local authority.85 See section 2.1.2 in addition.
Primary and secondary
Private sector schools in Wales are generally known as independent schools and, in addition to fees paid by parents may, in some cases, also be funded by donations and grants received from benefactors.45 A private or independent school is "any school at which full-time education is provided for five or more children of compulsory school age (5 to 16 years) (whether or not such education is also provided for children over or under that age)", and which is not maintained by a local education authority (LEA).6 (Voluntary schools, which are set up and, in many cases, owned by a voluntary body, usually a church body, are considered to be maintained schools rather than independent/private schools, since they are publicly-funded and may not charge tuition fees.)45Independent schools must be registered with National Assembly for Wales (NAfW). Those with approval, under the Education Act 19966, to admit children with statements of special educational needs, without the prior consent of the NafW, are subject to school inspections, in accordance with the School Inspections Act 1996.7 Reports of such inspections are made public. Other independent schools are subject to regular monitoring visits. Where an aspect of education provision is deemed to be unsatisfactory, improvements must be made and a school which fails to meet the required standards may be deleted from the register of independent schools.45 The curriculum of independent schools is the responsibility of the headteacher and governors of the school and, although independent schools must have regard to the National Curriculum requirements (see sections 5.2.1 and 5.3.1), they are not required to implement these fully. However, the curriculum is one of the major aspects considered in a school inspection and both the range and the depth of the curriculum offered must be appropriate for the age, aptitude, ability and special educational needs (SEN) of the children in the school.45
Post-compulsory
There are a number of independent institutions which offer post-compulsory education (for students aged 16+). For the most part, these institutions offer an academic education leading to General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE 'A' Level) and General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Subsidiary qualifications (commonly known as GCE 'AS' Levels). There are also a number of specialist institutions, such as secretarial and business colleges and art colleges. Tutorial colleges train students for a particular examination, usually by means of courses of short duration.45
