Strategic Research
Identifying Effective Practice in Raising Young People’s Aspirations
Published September 2009
Identifying Effective Practice in Raising Young People’s Aspirations provides an evidence base to inform future efforts in raising young people’s aspirations. The focus of the study is on England since 2005 and those strategies, interventions and practices that have proved to work most effectively in terms of achieving the engagement/re-engagement of young people with learning, and the progression of those already engaged.
The research examines the various stages in the learner journey and highlights the effective practice at each stage that can lead to raising young people’s aspirations. The report provides a detailed literature review of effective practice in raising the aspirations of young people, together with six case study reports, which showcase innovative approaches, involving a wide range of partners working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, including young parents, young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and those in care.
Understanding Choice and the Empowered Learner
Published: 16 March 2009
Research undertaken to gain a greater understanding of choice and the empowered learner. The research cuts across policies for both 14-19 and adult learning, and will be of interest to those involved in the development of advisory and guidance services and marketing campaigns.
Rapid Review of Research on Apprenticeships
Published: 8 August 2008The Policy Research Institute at Leeds Metropolitan University was asked by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to provide a 'rapid review' of research evidence pertaining to Apprenticehsips.
The review draws together the findings from a range of research reports, both commissioned by research and academic; whilst considering evaluation and policy papers from national government and relevant quasi-public sector agencies.
Research into Expanding Apprenticeships
Published: 7 August 2008
The Learnring and Skills Council (LSC) commissioned Ipsos MORI and Cambridge Policy Consultants (CPC) to conduct research into how the Apprenticeship programme in England can be expanded to meet the recommendations of
Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills (published by HM Treasury in December 2006).
The primary aim of the research was to provide an understanding of employers' and learners' attitudes toward the Apprenticeship programme. This will help the LSC to better understand the factors that lie behind the demand for Apprenticeships, and to consider how policy changes might bring out expansion.
Implementing the QTLS reforms in the Third Sector
Published: July 2008The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) National Office commissioned NIACE to identify the possible impact of the new qualification, registration and CPD requirements for teachers, traininers and tutors in the leaning and skills sector on Third Sector (TS) providers and practitioners.
The project addressed four key areas. These were:
- the TS teacher role, its distinguishing features (if any) and how these intersect with the QTLS reforms;
- the likely cost implications for TS providers of implementing the QTLS reforms, both in terms of meeting the new requirements and establishing/sustaining a supporting infrastructure; and
- issues or barriers that could affect TS engagement with the reforms, any examples of practice to show how these could be addressed
Impact of Learning on Employability
Published: 1 February 2008
The LSC has conducted a large survey of the impact and benefits of general learning in FE on:
- The economic status of workless individuals – their progression into work and off benefits
- The personal impact of learning – in terms of improving skills and increasing confidence?
10,000 learners were interviewed by telephone from June to August 2007. They had all undertaken an FE course which completed in 2005-06, and all were eligible for fee remission due to receipt of workless benefits. 10% of the sample were working less than 16 hours a week when their course started, and all were aged between 20 and 55.
The key findings were that nearly four in ten (38%) of learners who were claiming workless benefits at the start of their FE course have worked since finishing their learning and one in three learners have moved into work and are no longer claiming workless benefits.
Employment outcomes are less positive for learners with multiple disadvantages. However, those with multiple disadvantages do benefit from a positive impact of learning in terms of: improved communication skills, improved employability skills and increased confidence.
For more information on this work please access the key findings and main report.
Pilot Study of Learners in Offender Institutions
Published: 31 January 2008
A pilot study which investigated the most appropriate methodology for extending the National Learner Satisfaction Survey (NLSS) to include learners in public prisons, and gathered information on these learners’ perceptions of their learning has just been concluded. The pilot involved 18 public prisons and Young Offender Institutes across three regions and tested three different survey methods of face-to-face interviews conducted by trained interviewers, self-completion sessions administered by trained interviewers and self-completion sessions administered by prison education staff.
Reports also shows that the majority of learners (over 80 per cent) are satisfied with their overall learning experience and the quality of their teaching and feel their course or training is meeting their needs. The most common reasons why these learners choose courses or training is to gain a qualification, advance skills and knowledge and help with finding a job on release.
For more information on this reseach please access the:
· Summary Brief: provides a summary of key findings
· Perceptions report: details the main findings and recommendation
· Methodology Report: details the selection and methodology approach
Recruitment and Training Among Large National Employers
Published: 10 January 2008
Lord Leitch's report recommended that the National Employer Service (NES) be expanded to provide a more effective advisory and brokerage service for employers in relation to the Train to Gain programme. In view of these commitments, the main aim of the research was to inform the LSC's understanding of large national employers' attitudes and actions in terms of recruitment and training.
The study was conducted with 201 large national employers, including 60 member companires of the NES, and follow-up case study research.
Role of Colleges in Community Cohesion: Rapid Review of Evidence
Published: 30 November 2007
The Policy Research Institute at Leeds Metropolitan University conducted a rapid review of the literature associated with FE colleges and community cohesion on behalf of the LSC.
The report provides an overview of the literature in relation to the role the FE colleges may play in promoting social cohesion. It also provides a summary of the key literature in related areas, in particular access to FE and the participation of groups that face social exclusion. It aism to inform further thinking about the way in which FE colleges can support social cohesion.
The Status and Reputation of the FE System
Published: 26 July 2007
The LSC and what was previously the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) have been working with the FE system (and particularly with FE colleges) to implement the reforms set out in Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances, and to respond to the challenges set out by Lord Leitch in his recent report Prosperity for All in the Global Economy: World Class Skills (published by HM Treasury in December 2006).
One of the key issues is the need to improve awareness and understanding of the role of the FE system among stakeholders. To achieve this, the LSC commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research among key stakeholders on their understanding and perceptions of the role of the FE system.
This research provides a baseline measure of perceptions and attitudes against which future progress can be measured.
The Impact of Fee Policies on Recruitment to LSC Funded Provision
Published: May 2007
This research project investigated the impact of changes of fee policies on recruitment to LSC-funded provision. The project explored college fee policies, fee levels and fee concessions. It focused on the impact of changes to tuition fees (hereafter referred to simply as ‘fees’) on recruitment and the overall effect of these changes on college fee income. Finally, the research explored full-cost recovery work (that is, work for which the costs are recovered in fees and added to the college’s income) and the extent to which this had been increasing in recent years.
Changing Patterns of Employment by Ethnic Group and for Migrant Workers
Published: 14 June 2006
The aim of this project is to provide a succinct analysis of changing patterns of employment by ethnic groups and for migrants. The objective is to provide a set of national and regional profiles of employment patterns, focussing upon gender, age and ethnic group, including variations across occupation and sector dimensions (as far as the data will allow).
Employer Perceptions of Migrant Workers
Published December 2006
The overall aim of the reserach was to address the knowledge gap in the area of migrant employment and training, and more specifically to gain views from employers.
Migrant Workers and the Labour Market
Published December 2006
The review pulls together information from four Learning and Skills Council reports on issues around migrant workers and the labour market.
Research into Employer's attitudes towards workers from outside the UK
Posted 22 August 2006
The Learning and Skills Council are carrying out some research examining employer's attitudes and experiences with workers who were born outside the UK to help develop our policy towards migration and skills. We are particularly interested in reasons and methods for recruiting these workers, experiences with these workers and training and development issues. The survey is of a qualitative nature and is being carried out by Directions Reseach and Marketing.
The LSC will not know the name of the companies interviewed and no comments made during the interview will be used for anything other than aiding in this particular piece of research. We simply want to get a good understanding of employer's views and experiences when employing workers from overseas.
This survey fully complies with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct.
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Working Futures 2007 - 2017
Published January 2009 by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Working Futures 2004 - 2014
Published January 2006
Working Futures 2004-2014 is the most detailed and comprehensive set of employment projections ever published for the UK.
Prior Qualifications of Adult Learners in Further Education
The aim of the survey was to inform, develop and monitor current and future initiatives supporting the LSC and Department for Education and Skills DfES) target to increase the number of adults qualified to full Level 2. In particular, the survey sought to measure the proportion of adult learners on provision in November 2005 undertaking their first full Level 2 qualification.
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The Feasibility of Employing APL to Identify Distance Travelled Towards the Achievement of Full Level 1, 2 and 3 Qualifications
Published 13.07.06
The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using accreditation of prior learning as a means of supporting progress towards achievement at Levels 1, 2 and 3.
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Review the Relationship Between Building Design, Cost and Quality in the Further Education Sector
Published 10.07.06
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in association with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) commissioned a study to review the relationship between building design, quality and construction-related costs in the Further Education (FE) sector in England.
