Aim of the project:

To investigate the 14-19 Green Paper to advise 4 Learning on the development of appropriate resources.

S&H Specialism:

Consultancy
Research & Evaluation

The project:

In February 2002 the DfES published its Green Paper on the future of 14-19 education '14-19: Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards'. The aim of the paper was to develop a coherent, flexible 14-19 phase of learning to meet the needs of all young people and of the economy and society.

The research that Sparrowhawk & Heald carried out concentrated on a number of themes:

Response and reaction to the paper by LEAs, LSCs and other official associations/organisations.
Staff/school reactions to paper, looking at how schools are prepared for the new courses.
Current course popularity and take-up, looking at vocational courses currently offered in schools and what new courses will be offered in the future. Existing resources to facilitate these courses were also investigated, as well as the ways in which schools and FE colleges might collaborate to deliver the new curriculum.
An investigation into which of the new courses could be supported by self-study and independent learning models, and the possible format of these models.

These investigations were accomplished by desk-based research of online published responses by schools, colleges and organisations, such as LEAs, LSC etc. Telephone conversations, questionnaires and face-to-face interviews with schools, colleges and organisations were also employed.

Outcomes:

A comprehensive report to help 4 Learning to understand more about the new curriculum and identify any opportunities that it may hold for them.

"Many thanks for carrying out this research to such a tight timescale. Only a company with such a sound knowledge of the education landscape, coupled with a true insight on the media and ICT, could have fulfilled our brief." - Simon Fuller, Channel 4 Learning