Watchdog warns DfES

December 22, 2006

The Government's public spending watchdog has criticised the Department for Education and Skills for failing to collect reliable data to prove it is meeting its policy targets.

The National Audit Office said that the DfES needed to "strengthen" several of its data systems, including those used to collect information on university dropouts and on the progress universities were making in widening participation. The department has data on fair access and dropout rates, but a lack of baseline data means it had failed to report progress on these targets.

A DfES spokesperson said: "We have already agreed to review our data systems. We will be working with the Treasury during the Comprehensive Spending Review to improve the quality of Public Service Agreement targets."

Register to continue

Why register?

  • Registration is free and only takes a moment
  • Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
  • Sign up for our newsletter
Register
Please Login or Register to read this article.

Sponsored

New perspectives on education’s digital future

Regardless of where universities were on their digital journey prior to recent months, the resultant shift to remote and hybrid learning has levelled the playing field across the higher education sector
Promoted by Microsoft Surface
Sponsored

Innovation and Startups

NCKU shows strength and strong competitiveness in the biotechnology medical field internationally and is highly influential in the optoelectronics, wafer foundry, LCD/LED panel, and biomedical device industries.
Promoted by National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)
Sponsored

Tsinghua University: #1 in China

Advancing critical thinking and entrepreneurship through research-based learning
Promoted by First Class Universities
Sponsored
ADVERTISEMENT