Completed research
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COMPLETED
An evaluation of young people’s perspectives of the
Increased Flexibility programme
Background
The government’s Increased Flexibility Programme (IFP) has been running for three years. It enables 14-16 year-olds to spend one day per week at a local College, undertaking a vocational GCSE or NVQ. The aims of the IFP are to improve social learning, increase skills and knowledge, raise attainment in national qualifications, and increase retention in post-16 education.
The projects
TSA undertook two projects into this initiative during the last two years:
In 2003 TSA was contracted by Learning and Skills Council Sussex (LSC Sussex) to undertake research into the first cohort of students to take part on this programme. The research focussed on hearing the ‘learners’ voice’, and aimed to understand young people’s experiences of the programme, in order that the course-providers could use the information to develop the scheme. In total 41 students were interviewed over four time points. A full report on this project has been produced, and is available from TSA.
In April 2004 TSA was awarded a further grant by LSC Sussex to develop this work. This second stage of the research involved interviews with 85 young people, 12 teachers, 22 parents, and 8 college staff involved in the IFP at the third cohort. 40 of the young people were followed a second time, once they started their course, to see if their experiences matched those of their cohort 1 counterparts. This project has now been completed, and a full report is now available from TSA.
A key output from these projects was a TSA Guide aimed at school and college staff involved in the IFP. A Guide for young people is currently in production.
Extension to the current research
In April 2004 TSA was awarded a further grant to develop this work. We are currently undertaking case studies of 12 secondary schools involved in IF, and exploring the selection process onto IF – this involves young people, teachers, parents, and College staff. The young people will be followed up again once the course has started in September. This extension to the current project will be completed in mid-2005, when we will produce a Good Practice Guide to recruitment and retention on the IF programme.
Project staff
Kerry Devitt was responsible for the research on both of these projects. Debi Roker was the project manager.
More information:
Please contact Young People in Focus
Email: info@youngpeopleinfocus.org.uk
Tel: 01273 693311
November 2005