College report highlights lack of clarity around good practice

A new collaborative report has highlighted a lack of clarity across FE about what constitutes good teaching and learning.

Leading learners in Further Education, published by the 157 Group of influential colleges and the charity CfBT Education Trust, suggests that the sector would benefit from creating a model of “what good practice in vocational learning looks like”.

The publication, partly based on an online survey conducted by the Institute for Learning (IfL), has made several recommendations to current FE leaders, sectors bodies, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Skills Funding Agency (SFA).

Tony McAleavy, education director of the CfBT Education Trust, said: “The CfBT recognises the importance of leadership in enhancing the learning experiences in the Further Education sector which is why we have collaborated with the 157 Group to produce a think piece whose findings and recommendations will be influential in shaping the future of leadership of learning.

“National organisations could do more to provide opportunities for strategic leaders to develop and share approaches to ensure the Further Education sector delivers a leadership of learning at its optimum.”

The CfBT Education Trust is a charity providing education services for the benefit of the public in the UK and internationally. Their staff work worldwide to support educational reform, teach, advise, research and train.

Commenting on the release of the report, Frank McLoughlin CBE, chair of the 157 Group and principal of City and Islington College, said: “The challenges of efficiencies and policy changes can take away the focus from the most important and core purpose of Further Education, which is to lead in teaching and learning and to ultimately meet the needs of our learners.

“This paper demonstrates fully how college leaders are pivotal to shaping a positive experience for learners, and the findings of the think piece will help to encourage and facilitate a debate around improvements which can be made to enable the sector to lead on learning at the very best levels.”

To download the full publication, click here.

Mark Astley