About Us
The Basic Skills Agency (BSA) has merged with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and will work in alliance with Tribal. The resulting Alliance for Lifelong Learning forms the country's leading concentration of expertise in literacy, language and numeracy across all age ranges.
The BSA's work in Wales will be assimilated into the Welsh Assembly Government in line with Welsh Assembly policy. NIACE, working with Tribal, has been contracted to support that work.
The BSA began life as a NIACE agency in 1975 and became an independent charity with government support in 1990. 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. Read the press release about the Alliance for Lifelong Learning.
Over its 30 years, the Basic Skills Agency has identified, developed and disseminated innovation and knowledge in basic skills teaching and learning as well as managing large scale contracts. It continues to work as part of a wide and complex network of providers and users in England and Wales. It is also recognised by its key stakeholders as a credible and independent centre of expertise and thinking. Each year we produce a delivery plan setting out our activity for the year.
We aim to support teachers of basic skills across sectors and age groups. Activity in England is developed in four sectors:
- Adult including projects for the Army and Financial Literacy
- 14-19
- Family
- Schools including the Quality Mark.
Find out more about our activities in England. In Wales we oversee the Welsh Assembly Government's National Basic Skills Strategy.
