Alliance for Lifelong Learning

3 Jul 2007 04:26 PM

ALLIANCE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

Basic Skills Agency (BSA) merges into NIACE
NIACE and Tribal form Alliance for Lifelong Learning to support literacy, language and numeracy across all age ranges
Welsh Assembly Government to take forward the Basic Skills Agency's work in Wales supported by NIACE

The Basic Skills Agency (BSA) begins work as part of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) yesterday - Monday 2nd July 2007 - and the expanded NIACE will work in Alliance with Tribal in the field of literacy, language and numeracy to form the country's leading concentration of expertise across all age ranges.

The BSA's work in Wales will be assimilated into the Welsh Assembly Government in line with the Welsh Assembly policy with NIACE, working with Tribal, contracted to support that work.

The BSA began life as a NIACE agency in 1975 and became an independent charity with government support in 1991. The Agency's work was critical for developing a strategy for literacy, language and numeracy and a range of work in the schools sector. In the light of changing circumstances the BSA's board sought an effective partner to take forward its work with adults and young people. Following competition, NIACE, working with Tribal, was successful in offering a way forward.

Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said, "We are delighted to bring together the rich experience BSA and NIACE staff have in supporting Skills for Life, and to work in alliance with Tribal to offer language, literacy and numeracy support across all age ranges to practitioners, policy makers and government alike."

He continued, "We believe our partnership work with Tribal, creating a distinctive not for profit and private sector alliance in pursuit of the public interest will provide a powerful base to take forward developments supporting the success of the Skills for Life and Every Child Matters Strategies in England. We are also delighted to be supporting the Welsh Assembly Government's forward programme."

Garry Hawkes, Chair of the Board of the BSA, said, "The Basic Skills Agency has a great record of achievement in supporting basic skills teaching and learning across all age groups. We are pleased that the Agency is joining with NIACE, working in alliance with Tribal. This move provides the best way of ensuring that key elements of the Agency's work - to support teachers, identify and disseminate best practice and raise standards - will continue well into the future."

He added, "In the short-term we have a detailed plan of work to deliver within England for the Department for Education and Skills. The Department will continue to provide funding until the end of March 2008 to enable us to deliver these projects."

Barry Brooks, Director for Education and Skills Strategy at Tribal, said, "Tribal is delighted to be involved in working with NIACE to ensure that the Basic Skills Agency's legacy for developing cradle to grave support to improve literacy, language and numeracy continues to make a major contribution to the Government's focus on securing social justice for all its citizens and economic sustainability through the skills of its workforce."

For further information please contact:

Ed Melia, NIACE Press Officer, on 0116 204 4248 or 07795 358 870.
Valerie McBurney, Head of Press and Promotions for the Basic Skills Agency at NIACE, on 020 7440 7788, email: valeriem@basic-skills.co.uk

Notes to Editors

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is the leading non-government organisation for lifelong learning in England, and exists to encourage more and different adults to engage in better-quality learning of all kinds and campaigns for, and celebrates the achievements of, all adult learners. www.niace.org.uk
Tribal is one of the fastest growing companies supporting the public sector in the UK today. It is a leading provider of professional support services, offering a range of consultancy and delivered services. Its turnover is over £250 million and it employs over 2,300 people from a regional network of offices. Its services include: consulting, technology, resourcing, education, property and communications. www.tribalgroup.co.uk
The Basic Skills Agency focused on finding, developing and disseminating good practice in literacy, language and numeracy – helping to support teachers of basic skills across sectors and age groups. Funded primarily by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Welsh Assembly Government, the Agency was the national development agency for literacy and numeracy in England and Wales. www.basic-skills.co.uk