Access keys Search Skip navigation
LSDA annual summer conference 21-22 June 2005
The Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA)
At the conference, Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, announced the appointment of Andrew Thomson (current chief executive of LSDA) as the Chief Executive Designate of the QIA and Sir Geoffrey Holland (current chairman of LSDA) as Chairman Designate.
The Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA) is being set up by the government to provide a strategic focus for quality improvement in the learning and skills sector. Its role will be to lead the development of a 3-year quality improvement strategy for the sector, build learning providers' capacity for self-improvement, secure the commitment of the sector to national strategic priorities and speed up the pace of improvement among providers.
The QIA is being created out of a restructured Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). LSDA's strategic work will form the nucleus of the new organisation. The LSDA programme of support activities provided to schools, colleges and other sector bodies will be continued by the Learning and Skills Network (LSN) which will sustain the expert delivery functions of the current LSDA. The QIA will be an executive non-departmental public body accountable to Ministers through the Department for Education and Skills and subject to scrutiny by Parliament.
Back to top