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As per our press statement of 31st January 2013 , we can confirm that LSIS is closing at the end of July. This as a result of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announcing in November last year, that they would cease to fund LSIS from July 2013. At its peak LSIS employed 155 colleagues, who came from Coventry and across the country. So far 33 colleagues have left and found new employment; the futures for others remains uncertain.

LSIS has been very successful in its role of improving the teaching and learning offered by FE colleges and other training and skills providers. This year alone we supported 97% of FE Colleges, 58% of independent learning providers, 76% of independent specialist colleges and 74% of sixth form colleges. “We received excellent support from LSIS and believe this was reflected in our Ofsted report.” – that was the view of Maria Gilling, Principal of Walsall Adult and Community College when her organisation became the first community provider in the country to be graded Outstanding by Ofsted under its new framework.

In summer last year, BIS did announce its intention to set up and fund an FE guild, which it is now known will be called the Education and Training Foundation. We are in discussions a range of partners about the potential of LSIS’s work being continued by them; but to date no arrangements have been confirmed.