The Education Funding Agency and arm's length body reform
On 14 October 2010, Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, announced the outcomes of a cross-government review of all public bodies. Of 900 bodies, more than half were to be reformed to some degree. The aim is to make at least £2.6 billion in administrative savings and a further £30 billion savings by reducing programme and capital spending over the spending review period. The Government also wants to establish greater accountability, transparency and efficiency in the operation of public services.
In response, the Department for Education has implemented a huge change programme, with several of its arm's length bodies closing and others becoming part of the Department. As a result, there will be four new executive agencies responsible for key delivery functions – the Standards & Testing Agency, the Teaching Agency, the National College and the Education Funding Agency. The Standards & Testing Agency opened on 1 October 2011; the other three agencies will begin operation on 1 April 2012.
Each agency will have a chief executive who will report to one of the Department’s directors general. The chief executives will also be accounting officers reporting to the Permanent Secretary and will be accountable to Parliament. Each agency will have its own budget and will be responsible for publishing its own annual accounts. Executive agency staff will be civil servants, employed by the Department for Education.
The Department's agencies and policy directorates will share back office services such as HR, IT support and communications, in order to deliver efficiency savings.
For enquiries about Care to Learn, Dance and Drama Awards, residual EMA and Adult Learning Grant, and Residential Support Scheme, please contact the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm.
For enquiries from providers, please contact the Provider helpline on 0845 600 7979. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm.
