Ofsted's Annual Report for 2006-2007 revealed signs of continuing improvement in adult learning and skills provision. Inspection of further education (FE) colleges revealed that 17 were outstanding, and a further 44 good in relation to overall effectiveness. In this article, the author argues that despite these signs of continuing improvement, there is still much to improve in adult education. No matter what contribution Ofsted makes through its work to improve standards and thus change lives, the primary responsibility for the quality of provision remains with individual providers. Under self-regulation, however, this responsibility is intended to become a collective responsibility for the FE system as a whole.