Clause 60
12:00 pm
Jim Knight (Minister of State (Schools and Learners), Department for Children, Schools and Families; South Dorset, Labour)
We certainly agree that in many circumstances, the YPLA will want to consult as proposed in the amendment and draw on existing practice. A number of bodies are already tasked with assessing the performance of providers, of which Ofsted is the major one, and local authorities are already scrutinised by the Audit Commission, among others.
In other areas, the YPLA might need to develop additional systems to enable it to do its job. It will need to performance manage directly when commissioning directly, and, in the unusual circumstances that we have been discussing, it can take provider quality into account when assessing a local authority’s commissioning plans. It will be able to adopt and develop schemes for performance assessment to support a local authority’s performance management functions. It will, of course, work with the SFA to develop a common assessment framework to provide consistency for providers. By and large, of course, the performance management of colleges will be carried out by the SFA and that of schools and sixth form colleges by the local authority.
I have set out some examples of when the YPLA will want an assessment framework, and I have said already that a national commissioning framework will set out the common framework, for example in respect of a framework for excellence. We are looking to simplify audit arrangements to ensure that no extra burdens are put in place and to avoid duplication. Obviously, we expect the YPLA to consult the most appropriate bodies, and we have levers to ensure that the consultation will take place. On the basis of those assurances, I hope that the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings will feel free to withdraw his amendment.