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Opportunity England: a collection of in-depth policy papers

In July 2023, the Assocation of Colleges published Opportunity England which put forward five policy recommendations to tackle the key challenges we face as a nation: an ageing population, Britain’s place in the world, climate change, digitalisation and economic growth and productivity.

A curriculum for all
An apprenticeship system that works
A new statutory right to lifelong learning
A workforce strategy
Investing in our future

Building on the Opportunity England paper and research commissioned by AoC, we published a new report, 100% opportunity: the case for a tertiary education system, in April 2024. This report set out what a system that serves everyone would look like.

A national social partnership body working across government to support strategies like green transition plan, NHS long term workforce plan, industrial strategy, digital transition, inward investment plans and set priorities for the whole country.

An effective system of devolution establishing local skills improvement plans (LSIPs) aligned to national priorities, setting out how the locality will deliver on them, added to local economic growth priorities.

A young person’s guarantee and demand-led adult funding, guaranteeing every 16-year-old a minimum offer they can access and providing adult funding so everyone can access the learning and skills they need.

Mission clarity of schools, colleges, universities, encouraging schools, colleges and universities to collaborate and sign-up to the new system ensuring the complete ‘offer’ to every 16-year-old and bringing together the adult education budget (AEB), apprenticeships, Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) and degree education post-18.

Curriculum and qualifications that reflect national and local needs, through a national review, centred around more hours for 16 to 18- year-olds, a broader curriculum, stronger enrichment and more inclusion and urgently considering English and maths GCSEs and the resit policy.

A reformed apprenticeship levy, top-slicing the levy to fund national and local priorities.

In consultation with AoC Strategy and Reference Groups we have now published a series of policy papers which further develop our thinking. All proposed solutions are underpinned by AoC’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, digital solutions, green skills and sustainability.

Read the executive summaries

Read the master document

Read the individual policy papers by clicking on the tiles below: