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Area reviews: final reports and recommendations published

Area reviews: final reports and recommendations published

Months after the first reviews started, the first batch of official reports has been published

29th November 2016, 3:29pm

The long-awaited first official area review reports have finally been published.

The first 13 reports from waves one and two were made public on the Department for Education website this afternoon.

The area reviews were established with a view to creating financially viable, sustainable, resilient and efficient colleges.

While many of the review findings have already been announced, this is the first time the final area review reports have been made available. The new reports detail the recommendations made for each of the colleges in the reviews.

At the Association of Colleges’ annual conference in Birmingham earlier this month, FE commissioner Richard Atkins said that, of the 200 colleges that had already been through the area review process, 88 were working towards merger, with 65 planning to remain as standalone institutions.

Skills minister Robert Halfon said: “We need an education system that works for everyone - high quality, well governed and financially stable further education is essential to that.

“That’s why we asked colleges, employers and other local representatives to review the further education on offer in their area and come up with recommendations to ensure employers and young people get the skills and training they need to help their local area thrive. I’d like to thank all of those that took part for the important work they have done.”