Combined authorities take control of adult education budgets

From the start of August, the six mayoral combined authorities and the Greater London Authority will now be accountable for administering the adult education budget in their areas.

The devolution of the adult education budget (AEB) will enable the six mayoral combined authorities and the Greater London Authority to align adult education skills provision with local area needs and make region-specific decisions about the allocation of the funding.

The AEB supports eligible learners aged 19 and over and provides them with the skills and learning they need to equip them for work, an apprenticeship, or other learning.

Eileen Milner, chief executive of the Education and Skills Funding Agency, said: “To prepare for the devolution of the adult education budget, ESFA and the Department for Education have been working collaboratively with the mayoral combined authorities and the Greater London Authority to support a smooth transition into operational readiness.

“As part of this work, Memoranda of Understanding were agreed to provide clarity of roles and responsibilities, and to outline joint ways of working to support providers understanding of the changing landscape. We have also ensured through our regular communications with providers and the sector, that they are aware of the changes and can plan accordingly.”

The mayoral authorities receiving the devolved adult education budget are: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, West Midlands, West of England and the Greater London Authority.