Friday, May 23, 2008
Release: Immediate
POST 16 EDUCATION SYSTEM RISKS ‘LOWER PARTICIPATION, POORER
PASS RATES AND HIGHER COST’
The different patterns of post-16 education in England result
more from history and institutional ambitions than from evidence of
what works best and therefore fail to meet the needs of all
learners according to a report due to be published by CfBT
Education Trust.
The CfBT-funded research report By accident or design – Is our
system of post 16 provision fit for purpose? by Mick Fletcher and
Adrian Perry is being launched in Westminster on June 9. It argues
that current policy focuses excessively on individual institutions,
and needs to pay more attention to the impact of different
combinations of schools and colleges in an area. Different patterns
can have a major impact on students.
Researchers found that structures and systems for post 16
provision vary greatly throughout the country but that no
organisation had the authority to shape the local system to get the
best results. They also argue that local arrangements based on
competition are likely to undermine the Government’s ambition to
increase participation in learning to age 18 to one hundred
percent.
Report author, Mick Fletcher, said: “ There is clear evidence
that some forms of organisation, for example small school 6th
forms, are less effective than others and that the current
direction of policy is one that is likely to lead to lower
participation, poorer pass rates and higher cost.
“We look to stronger local management of the system, a halt to
disruptive central initiatives, work on sub regional and area
performance indicators, and a new post 16 admission protocol to
match those at 11 and 18.”
By accident or design points to the Welsh approach to reforming
post 16 education which looked at the totality of post 16 provision
before making recommendations about the role of FE.
Tony McAleavy, CfBT Education Trust’s Education Director, added:
“Pressure on institutions to compete with each other, coupled with
the absence of strong central leadership has created a variety of
incoherent systems in some local areas. While individual
institutions in one area might be considered excellent,
collectively they can fail to meet the needs of some young people.
This is damaging to learners and particularly so to those lower
down the ability range.
What is required are organisational arrangements based on the
evidence of what works best to meet the needs of all learners in an
area. These arrangements are unlikely to emerge by themselves, the
system needs to be designed to work in the best interests of all
students.”
Another CfBT research report, Learning matters – making the
14-19 reforms work for learners, will also be available on June 9.
Part of the same learning and skills research programme, Learning
Matters argues that for current reforms to work policy makers need
to pay attention to the lessons of the past and provide more
influence to those who know the learners.
CfBT Education Trust has funded a series of research projects on
learning and skills development for post-14 learners through its
Evidence for Education research programme. All CfBT research is
available to download for free from www.cfbt.com/evidenceforeducation.
Ends
Notes for Editors:
By accident or design – Is our system of post 16 provision fit
for purpose? is launched on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 2pm 1 Great
George Street, Westminster.
If you would like to attend please contact Becky Osborne
rosborne@cfbt.com or 0118 902 1636.
All of CfBT’s research including By accident or design – Is our
system of post 16 provision fit for purpose? and Learning matters –
making the 14-19 reforms work for learners is available to download
free from www.cfbt.com/evidenceforeducation
CfBT Education Trust
CfBT Education Trust is a leading education consultancy and
service organisation. Our object is to provide education for public
benefit both in the UK and internationally. Established 40 years
ago CfBT Education Trust now has an annual turnover exceeding £100
million and employs more than 2,000 staff worldwide who support
educational reform, teach, advise, research and train.
As a not-for-profit organisation we commit around £1 million of
our surpluses every year for practice-based educational
research.
For more information visit http://cfbt.com or contact:
Karen Borrer
CfBT Education Trust
60 Queens Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 4BS
Tel: 0118 902 1256
kborrer@cfbt.com