NIACE and Tribal - taking forward the Quality Mark

The Basic Skills Agency merged with NIACE (National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education), working in alliance with Tribal, from 1st July 2007. The new 'Alliance for Lifelong Learning' is committed to sustaining and developing the work and legacy of the BSA in its support of literacy, language and numeracy.

Within the Alliance, Tribal* has the key role of leading literacy, language and numeracy development across early years and the schools sector. The Quality Mark Programme is an important part of Tribal's new portfolio of responsibilities. Tribal is working alongside Quality Mark staff from the former BSA to embed the award within its core offer to the sector.

Tribal's intention is to not only maintain the Quality Mark, but to develop it and expand into fresh contexts. A revised model, designed to recognise the new policy context and priorities of both DCSF and DIUS, will be in place by April 2008.

Planning meetings involving Tribal and former BSA staff are well underway to discuss, agree and develop effective and efficient ways of taking the Quality Mark forward robustly and with increasing relevance from April 2008**.

For more information contact the Quality Mark Team on 020 7440 6611/15 or email: qualitymark@niace.org.uk.

Notes for editors

* Tribal Group is a leading provider of consultancy and support services to the Government, their agencies and those who are responsible for taking policy in to practice. As part of this work Tribal already has an established relationship with local and unitary authorities in England.

** Before the end of March 2008 no fundamental changes in the Quality Mark programme's procedures, processes and practices are envisaged. The current BSA programme, including the Quality Mark, has to date been funded through a core annual grant from the DIUS (formerly DfES). From 31st March 2008 this approach to funding will cease and both NIACE and Tribal are currently exploring other sources of funding.