Introduction to the Council.

Overview & Synopsis

This booklet presents basic information about the Further Education Funding Council, which was established in 1992 to ensure the sufficiency and adequacy of further education facilities throughout England. Discussed first are the council's main responsibilities: ensuring sufficient further education opportunities for young people and adults throughout England; ensuring that the needs of students with learning difficulties/disabilities are met; and making arrangements to assess the quality of further education funded by the council. Examined next are the council's activities in the following areas: funding further education; meeting the need for further education; assessing the quality of further education; and providing information about further education. Other topics discussed are as follows: the council's formal status and accountability; its relationship with further education colleges; its regional structure; its operation in advisory, developmental, and regulatory capacities; and its budget. Appended are lists of the following: council aims; the council's legal duties; institutions that the council may fund; courses that the council may fund; council funding arrangements; membership of the council; chairmen of the regional committees; management group and senior staff; council regional offices; and council publications. Also included is a council regional map. (MN)