Press Release

Edexcel responds to Leitch Implementation Plan

20 July 2007

Edexcel has today published a response to World Class Skills, the Government's implementation plan in response to the Leitch review of skills.

The response welcomes the plan but suggests that some clarifications and details are needed to help all partners fully realise its potential.

Jerry Jarvis, Edexcel's Managing Director, said: "The Government's plan for World Class Skills provides a useful supporting framework and sharpens the focus of the Leitch targets.

"Identifying interim achievements for 2011 and 2014 is particularly helpful, as is clarification of the respective roles and responsibilities for some key partners in the education and skills arena. However, all of us working towards improving the UK's skills need to focus on developing a long-term and sustained interest in learning that will go beyond these targets.

"We have some reservations concerning the reform of vocational qualifications and other details which need to be resolved if we are to meet the UK's ambitious targets. But this report is a bold and important step.

"Edexcel will continue to play a leading role in helping improve skills for each learner and for the UK as a whole".

Edexcel Thinks: World Class Skills is available for free at http://www.edexcel.org.uk/about/policies/ed-thinks/ and a Policy Watch analysis is available at http://www.edexcel.org.uk/about/policies/epw/.