Useful Links

ABC Awards

The ABC Awards national operation is supported through its four offices based at Chorley, Nottingham, Reading and Taunton, all providing a full range of assessment services to centres.

Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI)

The Adult Learning Inspectorate is a government funded body responsible for raising the standards of education and training for young people and adults in England, by inspecting and reporting on the quality of learning provision they receive.

Aimhigher

Originally launched in September 2001, as Excellence Challenge, Aimhigher aims to widen participation in higher education (HE) by raising the awareness, aspirations and attainment of young people from under-represented groups.

ALPSE

The Association of Learning Providers is recognised as the voice of independent learning providers throughout England. The majority of its 400 members are private, not-for-profit and voluntary sector training organisations. Membership is open to any provider committed to quality work based learning (WBL) and it includes over 50 Further Education colleges involved in WBL.

AOC

The Association of Colleges was created in 1996 as the single voice to promote the interests of further education colleges in England and Wales. The Association provides a broad range of services to its subscribers. It represents their interests locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Its management, split into various directorates, provides a pool of expertise on which the sector draws.

The BBC Learning Homepage

The BBC website contains over half a million pages of news, entertainment and factual material.

BERR

BERR's central purpose is to help ensure business success in an increasingly competitive world. It is the voice for business across Government. It leads the Government's drive to raise UK levels of productivity, create the conditions for business success and strengthen the economic performance of all the regions.

British Educational Communications & Technology Agency -

Becta is the Government's key partner in the strategic development and delivery of its information and communications technology (ICT) and e-learning strategy for the schools and the learning and skills sectors.

Business Link

Business Link provides the information, advice and support you need to start, maintain and grow a business. It provides information and advice to help customers make the most of their opportunities.

Commission for Racial Equality
The Commission for Racial Equality is a publicly funded, non-governmental body set up under the Race Relations Act 1976 to tackle racial discrimination and promote racial equality.

Connexions

Connexions is for you if you are 13-19, living in England and wanting advice on getting to where you want to be in life. It also provides support up to the age of 25 for young people who have learning difficulties or disabilities (or both).

DCMS

We aim to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, to support the pursuit of excellence and to champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.

DCSF

The Government has long been committed to enabling all children and young people to reach their full potential. This requires a strong lead in securing integrated children's services and educational excellence. The new Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) means we can really concentrate on achieving these objectives.

DIUS

This new Department brings together functions from two former departments. Science and innovation responsibilities from the Department of Trade and Industry. Skills, further and higher education from the Department for Education and Skills. To build a dynamic, knowledge based economy the new Department will draw together the nation's strengths in colleges, research, science and universities.

European Social Fund

On 30 October 2006, Work and Pensions Minister James Plaskitt launched a consultation on how €2.75 billion of European Social Fund money will be invested in jobs and skills in England over the next seven years.

Environment Agency
"We are the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. It's our job to make sure that air, land and water are looked after by everyone in today's society, so that tomorrow's generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world." Sir John Harman, Chairman.

Every Child Matters

Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. The Government's aim is for every child, whatever their background or their circumstances, to have the support they need to: Be healthy, Stay safe, Enjoy and achieve, Make a positive contribution, Achieve economic well-being .

FE Jobs
A new website for jobs in Further Education, developed in association with the Association of Colleges (AoC), by Eteach.com

FE News

We specialise in providing up to the minute news and features about Further Education across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including Colleges, Training Providers, Awarding Bodies, Funding Bodies, Apprenticeships and Inspections.

Financing Retirement

A Website focused on preparing for and financing your way through retirement.

Government Office South East (GOSE)

The Government Office for the South East (GOSE) represents central government in the South East, particularly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister; the Departments for Education and Skills; Trade and Industry; Transport; Culture, Media and Sport; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; the Home Office. GOSE works to influence contract and develop government programmes and initiatives at a regional and local level, by working in partnership with relevant organisations to meet local needs.

HERO

HERO is the primary internet portal for academic research and higher education in the UK.  It is an excellent resource for enquiries about higher education for the widest possible range of visitors and a showcase for the diversity and quality of research and higher education in the UK.

HESE

HESE aims to represent the interests of Higher Education in the South East of England. By encouraging a collaborative ethos, it aims to strengthen their contribution to the economic, social and cultural growth of the region, and to influence and shape the regional agenda.

Institute for Learning (IfL)

The Institute for Learning is the professional body for teachers, trainers, tutors and student teachers in the Learning and Skills sector.

Investors in People

Investors in People UK was established in 1993 to provide national ownership of the Investors in People Standard and is responsible for its promotion and branding, quality assurance and development.

JISC Regional Support Centre South East

The JISC Regional Support Centres exist to support the institutions of the FE sector, including specialist colleges, to realise their ambitions in deployment of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in order to achieve their institutional mission. The network of JISC Regional Support Centres will operate as a national service responsive to local needs through a strong sense of local ownership.

Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) supports further and higher education by providing strategic guidance, advice and opportunities to use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to support teaching, learning, research and administration

Job Centre Plus

Jobcentre Plus is a government agency supporting people of working age from welfare into work, and helping employers to fill their vacancies.  We are part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and play a major role in supporting the Department's aim to 'promote opportunity and independence for all through modern, customer-focused services'.

Lifelong Learning UK

Lifelong Learning UK is the Sector Skills Council responsible for the professional development of all those working in community learning and development; further education; higher education; libraries, archives and information services; and work-based learning.

LSC

The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to ensure we have a workforce of world-class standard. We are responsible for planning and funding high quality education and training for everyone in England other than those in universities.

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)

NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) exists to encourage more and different adults to engage in learning of all kinds. We campaign for – and celebrate the achievements of – adult learners, young and old, and in all their diversity. NIACE is the largest organisation working to promote the interests of learners and potential learners in England and Wales. NIACE (The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education - England and Wales) is a non-governmental organisation working for more and different adult learners.

Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED)

Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department established under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 to take responsibility for the inspection of all schools in England. Its role also includes the inspection of local education authorities, teacher training institutions and youth work. During 2001, Ofsted became responsible for inspecting all 16-19 education and for the regulation of early years childcare, including childminders.

Tutor Hunt

The Tutor Hunt network helps both tutors and students find each other.

QAA

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education with responsibility for all HE inspections.

Qualifications & Curriculum Authority (QCA)

QCA maintains and develops the national curriculum and associated assessments, tests, and examinations; and accredits and monitors qualificationsin colleges and at work.

Regional Action & Involvement in the South East (RAISE)

RAISE is the representative body for Voluntary and Community organisations in South East England.

SEEDA

SEEDA is responsible for the economic and social development of the South East - the driving force of the UK's economy.

Skills Insight
The Skills Insight Website provides a central resource of skills an economic related intelligence.

Southeast Cultural Observatory

The Southeast Cultural Observatory is a result of an identified need for an information resource that demonstrates how culture has a positive impact on many themes of society - on learning and skills, on health, on social inclusion or economic development.

TechDis

TechLearn provides advice and support on new and emerging technologies for learning and teaching

The Disability Rights Commision

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is an independent body established in April 2000 by Act of Parliament to stop discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people.

The Equal Opportunities Commission

The Equal Opportunities Commission is the leading agency working to eliminate sex discrimination in 21st Century Britain. If women and men had equal chances in life, things would be different. We're working on it…

The Learning & Skills Council (National)

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.

The National Learning Network (NLN)
The National Learning Network was set up to transform the post-16 learning environment and increase the uptake of ICT and e-learning across the sector.