Further Education in England: the New Localism, Systems Theory and Governance

The paper explores the changing forms of governance currently being applied to the
English further education sector, changes that emphasise the importance of locality. The
paper sets the sector within its socio-economic and policy context, examining current
policy changes that intend to alter the way in which the sector is managed. It relates these
changes to their contextual location and to a set of conceptual notions that derive from a
particular understanding of systems theory and what has been described as the new
localism. It concludes that whilst these changing forms governance are in continuity with
earlier policies that had a regional dimension they remain set on the terrain of
performativity and new public sector management. Nevertheless, there remains a residual
potential to develop more democratic forms of engagement in these changes.