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
2.1.1 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
