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LSN (Learning and Skills Network) was an independent not-for-profit organisation in the United Kingdom that provided consulting, outsourcing, research, technology and training services for learning and skills.
It went into administration in November 2011. [1]
In 1995 two organisations merged, the Further Education Unit – an agency on curriculum issues – and the Staff College , which trained staff in the further education sector. This new organisation was known as the Further Education Development Agency (FEDA).
FEDA was then renamed the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) in November 2000 to reflect its widening remit across the learning and skills sector. LSDA’s programmes in research, training and consultancy continued as normal under the banner of the Learning and Skills Network. In 2006 LSDA’s policy and strategic work developed into the Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA), now known as the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). LSDA's work went on to become an independent organisation - the Learning and Skills Network.
On 28 March 2006 Learning and Skills Network registered as a UK charity (Registered No. 1113456) with the following stated objectives:
1. To promote the improvement, development and opportunities for development of the performance and skills of members of the teaching, management and other staff of the education, learning skills and children's services sectors in such a way that they are better able to be more effective and efficient in the development of the education, learning and skills of their pupils, students and other learners; and
2. To promote, encourage and develop education, learning and skills in the united kingdom and elsewhere, and in particular, by advising upon, developing and providing education, learning and skills courses, by providing flexible and innovative solutions to the education, learning and skills sector's demands and by facilitating the capability of people and organisations to provide support for learner development.
After further business developments, acquiring a selection of UK training-specialist companies including e-learning solutions provider Learning Resources International in the process, and a re-brand in 2009, the organisation officially became LSN and operated across a multitude of sectors including further education, higher education, local authorities, schools, public services and the private sector, in the UK and internationally.
In 2010, LSN entered into a joint venture with Oxford & Cherwell Valley College to take over ownership of Reading College, a further education college in Reading, Berkshire, UK, from then owners Thames Valley University (renamed University of West London in 2011).
LSN went into administration in November 2011. Post administration some of the purchased companies were re-acquired by their previous owners, including Learning Resources International, which has re-branded and repositioned itself as an all-in-one e-learning solutions provider for training providers and learning and development professionals. [1]
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) was a non-departmental public body jointly sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in England. It closed on 31 March 2010 and was replaced by the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People's Learning Agency.
The National Learning Network (NLN) was a UK national partnership programme designed to increase the uptake of Information Learning Technology (ILT) across the learning and skills sector in England. Supported by the Learning and Skills Council and other sector bodies, the NLN provided network infrastructure and a wide-ranging programme of support, information and training, as well as the NLN Materials − a substantial range of e-learning content. The initiative began in 1999 with the aim of helping to transform post-16 education. The Government's total investment in the NLN totalled £156 million over a five-year period.
The Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) was a publicly funded body in the United Kingdom that supported further education in England. At the end of March 2006 its functions were divided into the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) and the Learning and Skills Network (LSN) and its trading subsidiary, Inspire Learning, better known by its brand name the Centre for Excellence in Leadership was spun-out. Inspire Leadership and QIA were re-absorbed into the same corporate entity, the Learning and Skills Improvement Service on 1 October 2008.
West Cheshire College was a further education, vocational college in the North West of England. It had over 20,000 students at its two main campuses in Ellesmere Port and Chester as well as in workplaces and community venues. In March 2017 it was merged with South Cheshire College, based in Crewe, to form Cheshire College – South & West, which as of 2020 retains the Ellesmere Port and Chester campuses.
Beacon Status was a progressive educational initiative that the United Kingdom implemented based on the idea that organizational learning could be advanced through a competitive process of identifying successful organizations and recruiting them to disseminate their good practices. The beacon status initiative was launched by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in partnership with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in 1998 and ran through to August 2005 for primary and secondary schools in England and Wales. Beacon Status was for providers funded by the Learning and Skills Council, which are mainly Further Education colleges. The Learning and Skills Improvement Service was still awarding Beacon Status in 2011.
LSDA Northern Ireland was part of the Learning and Skills Network (LSN), with a role to support all forms of post-16 education and training in Northern Ireland.
Westminster Kingsway College is a large college for further education in central London with centres in King's Cross in Camden, together with Victoria and Soho centres in Westminster. Founded in 2000 and having origins dating back to 1910, the college is part of Capital City College Group, alongside City and Islington College and The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London. Altogether, the group have over 25,000 enrolled students as of 2020. Westminster Kingsway College provides further, adult and higher education programmes, including full-time and part-time vocational, professional and academic courses at different levels.
The Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) was a non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government whose remit was to support those institutions that provide education, but which are not schools or universities. This covers a broad range of institutions, ranging from further education colleges, prison education to workplace training and various other types of education and training.
Skills for Life was the national strategy in England for improving adult literacy, language (ESOL) and numeracy skills and was established as part of the wider national Skills Strategy to increase the numbers of young people and adults with adequate skills. The strategy was launched by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in March 2001.
Learndirect Ltd, stylised as learndirect, is a British training provider founded in 2000, owned by the private equity firm Lloyds Development Capital (LDC). The company has a network of learning centres in England and Wales, and also runs some courses online. Nearly all of Learndirect's revenue is from government contracts.
Recognising and recording progress and achievement (RARPA), in the education sector in England, is an approach for measuring the progress and achievement of learners on some further education courses which do not lead to an externally accredited award or qualification. The majority of such courses are in the adult and community learning sector and other non-accredited learning settings.
In England, learning and skills refers typically to post-compulsory education and training, provided by further education and sixth form colleges, schools with sixth forms, local authority and adult education institutions, private and voluntary sector providers, offender learning, and workplace learning including Apprenticeships and other employer-facing initiatives. The learning and skills sector is vital to increasing productivity, economic competitiveness and sustainable employment in the UK
The National Extension College (NEC) was set up in 1963 as a not-for-profit organisation for distance learning for people of all ages. It was founded as a pilot study for the Open University.
The Institute for Learning (IfL) was a voluntary membership, UK professional body. It ceased operating on 31 October 2014. Although precise membership figures and statistical details had been removed from IfL's webpage prior to its closure, at the end of financial year 2013-2014 IfL were reported as having only 33,500 of their 200,000 members remaining.
Landex – 'Land Based Colleges Aspiring to Excellence' – is a subscriber organisation with 39 member Colleges and Universities in the United Kingdom. To qualify for membership, the provider must deliver significant volumes of land-based education and training in at least six occupational areas.
The Department for Education (DFE) is the UK government department responsible for child protection, education, apprenticeships and wider skills in England.
Reading College is a further education college based in Reading, Berkshire, England. It has over 8,500 local learners on over 900 courses.
NCFE, previously the Northern Council for Further Education, is an Awarding Organisation nationally recognised by the qualification regulators for each country of the United Kingdom. NCFE is regulated by the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator in England, the Welsh Government in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland.
Dr Katharine Jewitt BA Hons, MA, MAODE, MSc HRM, MRES, MBA, MEd, FHEA, FRSA, FSET, CMALT is a Research Fellow in The Open University's Faculty for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics, an independent Educational Technology and Management Consultant. She works as a lecturer at The Open University in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies; Faculty of Business and Law and The Centre for Inclusion and Collaborative Partnerships. She works for The Open University's Teaching and Learning Centre and International Development Office in a consulting capacity. She also works as a Mentor for FutureLearn and is a Producer Editor for OpenLearn. She is a School Governor and mentors staff to achieve Fellowship status for the Higher Education Academy. Jewitt teaches ESL in China. Previously, Jewitt was Director of Teaching, Learning, Curriculum and Quality at Prospects College of Advanced Technology and has held senior positions in industry, including DHL, Exel and Fujitsu.
Apprenticeships have a long tradition in the United Kingdom, dating back to around the 12th century. They flourished in the 14th century and were expanded during the industrial revolution. In modern times, apprenticeships were formalised in 1964 by act of parliament and they continue to be in widespread use to this day.