London proposals for 14-19 education and training

London Councils has established the 14-19 Regional Planning Group (RPG) to oversee the smooth transfer of education for 16-19 year olds to local authorities and to ensure that all young Londoners are in a position to benefit from the 14-19 reforms.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) requested details on every local authority’s proposed plans for joint working on 16-19 commissioning by the end of September 2008.    The RPG submitted a proposal on behalf of all London local authorities, signed off by all 32 London Directors of Children’s Services, to outline its approach.   This document – known as Gateway 1 - was accepted in principle by the GOL.  However this was on the understanding that some specific questions they raised regarding the structure were addressed by the RPG in a second draft – known as Gateway 2 – which was submitted in February 2009.   Both documents can be downloaded here.

The RPG's proposals outline a groundbreaking system for commissioning 16 - 19 education. Local authorities will take the lead in determining local educational priorities in partnership with colleges, schools and other education providers, and the Regional Planning Group will ensure overall coherence between borough plans by offering a London-wide strategic vision to assist them in making commissioning decisions.