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:

individual providers and practitioners across education and training.
policy-makers
organisations that fund, manage and provide education

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.

Programmes Programmes support learning providers – their leaders, managers, teachers and trainers, to meet the challenges they face as the UK education sector grows and develops.

Funded by QIA, DIUS and the Learning and Skills Council among others, each programme is designed to support a particular priority.

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 have developed a range of training and consultancy solutions. For example, in-house training on implementing RARPA (Recognition and Recording of Progress and Achievement) for non-accredited provision, support for partnership working, and support for implementing the new Disability Equality Duty – amongst many others. LSN Solutions delivers customised programmes on a fee-paying basis.

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

The Chief Executive is John Stone, who previously was Principal of Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College.

The current board members are: Mr Chris Hughes CBE (Chair) Mr Chris Blythe - Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Building Mrs Kate Griffin - President of the International Confederation of Principals Mr Bill Stokoe Dr Ursula Howard - Director of the National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy (NRDC). Professor Mike Thorne - Vice Chancellor of the University of East London Dr David Collins CBE - Principal of South Cheshire College Ms Sharon White - Director, TTC Training Mr Andy Westwood - Director, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion Ms Christine Whatford CBE - Chair of the UNESCO UK National Education Committee