ABSTRACT
The educational system of England and Wales is commonly described as a 'national system, locally administered', with the Department of Education and Science as a major operational partner rather than its sole controller. At the regional level, in addition to the Regional Advisory Councils, both Regional Economic Planning Councils and Regional Examining Boards have an interest in and an influence on further education. The Department of Education and Science is relatively small, as government departments go, and almost wholly concerned with policy. In formulating policy, the Secretary of State relies on a number of national advisory bodies of which, until its abolition at the end of 1977, the most influential was the National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce. The responsibility for providing further education rests very largely with the local education authorities, the cost being met from the central government's Rate Support Grant and from local rates.
