Messing about,political indulgence,or making progress?

Abstract

The article, as an opinion piece, considers the experience of Government policy change with reference to the further education sector in England. An Institute for Government report, ‘All change: Why Britain is so prone to policy reinvention, and what can be done about it’ focused on further education as one of its case examples. Those of us who have worked in some capacity in further education for many years will have almost taken for granted the expectation of regular policy changes. The Institute of Government report makes clear how much change there has been. The article considers the possible consequences for the governing of colleges from policy change on the scale experienced by the further education sector. There is no intention in the article to argue for stopping important and necessary improvements for learners and learning in the further education sector in England. However, the case is made for reviewing the nature of intent and the processes of change.