LSIS is both a company limited by guarantee registered in England and a charity registered with the Charity Commission. It is managed by a Board comprising its charitable Trustees, who are also the directors of the company, and also has a Council of up to 30 members elected from the further education sector.

The priorities for 2010-11 were to support organisations performing below standards, to build the capacity of the sector to self-improve and to offer continuing professional development for staff at all levels. The emphasis was on more self-improvement solutions and strategies led and delivered by the sector itself.