QUANGOS IN TROUBLE

Where the cuts are likely to fall in education

In an effort to cut hundreds of millions of pounds from the budget deficit, the new British coalition-led government has prepared cuts to the education budget.

The chief secretary to the Treasury, David Laws, will announce £6bn of cuts – from education and elsewhere – in an attempt to dent Britain's £163bn fiscal deficit.

In education, quangos predicted to be effected include:

• The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency: designs the national school curriculum, which has an annual budget of £128m.

• Becta: promotes the use of technology in schools, which has an annual budget of £65m.

Governmental agencies thought to be selected for heavy cuts include:

• The Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA): trains teachers and ensures schools are delivering government policy. Last year its budget was £743m.

• The Young People's Learning Agency: funds education and training for 16 to 19-year-olds.
  

• The School Food Trust: tries to improve the standard of school dinners to comply with, and exceed, nutritional standards.

• The Children's Commissioner: aims to champion the voices of children and young people in their local areas.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/21/cuts-education