Search results for 'Training and skills'

Showing 161 - 180 of 235 results

  1. The apprenticeships programme

    Press release

    Published on:

    This report assesses whether the apprenticeships programme is providing value for money.

  2. Widening participation in higher education in England

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Student achievement rates in English higher education institutions have remained high during a period of considerable expansion of student numbers, although rates vary widely between institutions. The higher education sector will have to recruit and retain more students from hitherto poorly represented social groups and help them to succeed if the government’s learning targets are […]

  3. Department for Education and Skills Resource Account 2001-02

    Report Financial audit

    Published on:

    Head of the National Audit Office Sir John Bourn today reported to Parliament that fraudulent and other irregular payments made under the Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) scheme had been estimated as likely to total some £97 million. As a result he has qualified his audit opinion on the Department for Education and Skill’s Resource Account […]

  4. Improving procurement in further education colleges in England

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Each year the 384 further education colleges in England spend £1.6 billion on a range of goods and services from books and stationery to examination fees and energy bills. Some colleges recognise the benefits of introducing more efficient and effective processes, but many need to improve their processes substantially, and could contribute to plans to […]

  5. Making a Difference: Performance of Maintained Secondary Schools in England

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    When measuring the performance of maintained schools in improving the academic achievements of their pupils, the Department for Education and Skills should take account of newly available data on the academic achievements of the pupils in earlier stages of their education and on aspects of their economic, social and cultural backgrounds. This recommendation appears in […]

  6. Individual Learning Accounts

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    The innovative Individual Learning Accounts (ILA) scheme was aimed at widening participation in learning and helping to overcome financial barriers faced by learners, particularly amongst those who lack skills and qualifications. The scheme, which subsidised the costs of appropriate courses, was implemented too quickly and inadequately planned. The Department for Education and Skills had no […]

  7. Delivering the Commercialisation of Public Sector Science

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Sir John Bourn, the Head of the NAO, reported to Parliament today that there has been progress in capturing for the nation more of the economic and social benefits of scientific research funded by the taxpayer. Commercialisation can range from making research outputs available to all, free of charge, to forming companies to develop innovative […]

  8. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Account 2001-2002

    Report Financial audit

    Published on:

    Head of the National Audit Office Sir John Bourn today reported that he had qualified his audit opinion on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority accounts for the second year running. Legal restrictions had again prevented him from being able to verify the amount of licence fee income due from clinics but not invoiced by […]

  9. Education Action Zones: Meeting the Challenge – The Lessons Identified From Auditing the First 25 Zones

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    The Department for Education and Employment took reasonable steps to mitigate the financial risks that were inherent in the new Education Action Zones programme, according to a National Audit Office report today. The report warns, however, that the DfEE and the zones must remain vigilant to avoid financial irregularities or improprieties which could detract from […]

  10. National College for Teaching and Leadership Accounts

    Press release

    Published on:

    Amyas Morse, Comptroller and Auditor General has qualified his audit opinions on the National College for Teaching and Leadership’s (NCTL) 2016-17 Accounts due to a limitation in the scope of his audit of the regularity of the NCTL’s grant expenditure.

    11 January 2018

  11. Government on the Web

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    The Government has set challenging targets for public services to be delivered to citizens electronically as part of the wider Modernising Government agenda. The Prime Minister pledged that by 2002 a quarter of all transactions between citizens and government should be capable of being conducted ‘electronically’, rising to 50% by 2005 and 100% by 2008. […]

  12. Managing Finances in English Further Education Colleges

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Sir John Bourn, the Comptroller and Auditor General, reported to Parliament today that the financial health of the further education sector in England is improving but that 13% of colleges are still in poor financial health. He identified a number of key management practices, which are typical of colleges in good financial health and which […]

  13. Department of Health – Innovation in the NHS: Local Improvement Finance Trusts

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, reported today that the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) initiative, launched in 2001, is an effective means of improving primary health and social care. The LIFT model has a number of strengths: it takes a long term strategic approach to local health provision which combines the […]

  14. Supporting Innovation: Managing Risk in Government Departments

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, today reported to Parliament that properly planned and managed risk taking by government departments can promote innovation and lead to improved value for money for taxpayers. Departments are increasingly considering how best to devise and implement effective risk management strategies. By September 2000, all departments must […]

  15. Academy Schools Sector in England Consolidated Accounts 2015-16

    Press release

    Published on:

    This is the first year in which the Department for Education (the Department) has produced Academy Sector Accounts which consolidate the results of the 3,013 academy trusts that were open during the year ended 31 August 2016.

  16. Improving student achievement in English higher education

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Student achievement rates in English higher education institutions have remained high during a period of considerable expansion of student numbers, although rates vary widely between institutions. The higher education sector will have to recruit and retain more students from hitherto poorly represented social groups and help them to succeed if the government’s learning targets are […]

  17. Scottish Enterprise: Skillseekers Training for Young People

    Report Value for money

    Published on:

    Scottish Enterprise’s Skillseekers programme had made considerable progress in delivering Vocational Qualifications for young people at reducing unit cost. There are, however, a number of ways that Scottish Enterprise and Local Enterprise Companies (LECs) can build on their successes, Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, reported to the Scottish Parliament today. Skillseekers […]