NEWSLETTER
September 2017
The LSRN newsletter is a channel for all interested in research and use of evidence in the Learning & Skills sector. Items for the next issue should be sent by 1stDecember to Andrew Morris
Anniversary
November 2017 marks the twentieth anniversary of LSRN’s first conference – in the Grand Hotel at Blackpool, hosted by Blackpool and the Fylde College.
The network was founded by a group of enthusiasts who had come together at a residential course at the Coombe Lodge Staff College in 1996, to discuss “Research in FE”. See “history” on the website. It has survived by adapting to changing conditions over the decades.
Rather than looking back nostalgically, LSRN is currently considering innovative ideas about its rolein the future. Proposals for a “meta-network”, that adds value to existing networks concerned with research and evidence in the sector, will be discussed at its next workshop in November.
The next issue of the Newsletter (December) will report back on the outcome of this.
Events
Beds, Bucks and Herts LSRN group
Launch event
Sam Jones is pleased to announce the launch of a new local network for the Learning and Skills Research Network, covering Beds, Herts and Bucks.
The first meeting will be on 31st October 2017 between 6-8pm, at Bedford College. The keynote speaker for this first event will be Professor Martin Doel. Research from an Education and Training Foundation ‘Outstanding Teaching Learning and Assessment’ project will be shared, plus some interesting work focusing on attendance.
It would be great to have support and ideas from as many researchers or research users from around the region as possible. If you are interested in joining us, please contact the local convenor Sam Jones @FE_Lecturer or at .
CEBE: Leading Research Engagement in Education
Open invitation workshop
CEBE’s teacher-led project, Leading Research Engagement, has produced an evidence-based guide which has gone down well at workshops at ResearchEd and SSAT conferences. It contains both guidance and case studies which people are finding helpful.
The team is planning its next step: a 2-hour workshop atCity & Islington College in London on 5th December at 17.00 – 19.00. It will be an open -ended event exploring two key issues for research engagement:
- how do we know whether engagement with research produces benefits (for students and/or teachers)?
- how do you sustain research engagement activity over the long run?
People involved in the case studies, and others who are interested, will tease out the issues, compare experiences and consider evidence on the matter. For further information or to participate contact Andrew Morris
Power and Professionalism in FE
Conference (incorporating book launch)
The focus of this conference is on how power is exercised and experienced in the Further Education sector. It will draw on and develop themes from The Principal – Power and Professionalism in FE, a sequel to Further Education and the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Using Machiavelli’s celebrated and contested treatise The Prince as a metaphorical guide, conference contributors will interrogate leadership, agency and professionalism in FE.
Sat 25 November 2017 10:00 – 15:00 GMT
University of Huddersfield
Queensgate
Huddersfield
HD1 3DH
Provisional programme:
• Introduction - Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE
• Keynote - Professor Ann-Marie Bathmaker
• Speakers – Chapter writers and additional contributors include Dr Vicky Duckworth,
• Plenary - Lou Mycroft
• Book launch
The event is supported by the ARPCE, LSRN, TELL and Tutor Voices.
More info via
Sat 25 November 201710:00 – 15:00 GMT
EAPRIL - European practitioner research association
Annual conference, Finland
TheEuropean Association for PractitionerResearch on Improving Learning(EAPRIL) promotes practice-based research on learning issues in the context of initial, formal, lifelong and organisational learning.EAPRIL is unique in bringing togetherthose interested in thecrossroads between research and practicebut alsobetween education and professional learning.See
The 2017 Conference will be held from 29th November till 1st December at the Häme University of Applied Sciences in Hämeenlinna, Finland.
Speakers include: Minna Huotilainen, Joseph Kessels and Ruben Vanderlinde. Full details at
FETN: Further Education Tutorial Network
Annual Conference: Improving the Quality of Tutoring & Learner Development
TheFETNAnnual Conference provides a unique opportunity for managers and practitioners to share good practice and network with colleagues and sector experts in the pursuit of excellence. The workshops offer a range of themes that support the development and improvement of tutorial, support and learner development in Further Education, Higher Education and Work Based Learning.
Keynotesare by:
- Gary Philips, Head of Workforce Development at the Education & Training Foundation
- Julie Gibson, author, Ofsted inspector, chief examiner and respected advisor.
For further details please visit
For further information contact: Dr Sally or see website
Research
Mathematics in Further Education (MiFEC)
Nuffield funded project at University of Nottingham
This project, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, aims to produce robust, evidence-based advice for policymakers, college managers and practitioners on the pressing issue of how to improve the quality of mathematics education in England’s Further Education (FE) colleges. This will inform the future agenda for research and development in this critically important phase of mathematical/vocational education.
The project is based at the University of Nottingham and led by Professor Andy Noyes. A mixed methods research design will be used to explore the complex interplay between factors that directly or indirectly affect students’ mathematical trajectories, outcomes and vocational learning.
Using a multi-scale approach, the following significant levels of FE mathematics education will be investigated:
- the national policy landscape for mathematics in FE;
- patterns of learner engagement over time;
- college level policy enactment and curriculum implementation;
- teacher workforce skills and motivations;
- student learning of mathematics in vocational contexts.
This will involve:
- college case studies;
- a policy trajectory analysis and literature review;
- analyses of student progression over time (using the ILR and Next Steps survey)
- a survey and analysis of the mathematics FE workforce which will complement existing workforce data reports.
Further details are available at and
or please contact Dr Diane Dalby for information about how individual colleges can be involved.
AELP Research on apprenticeships
In recent months, the growing research team at the Association of Employment and Learning Providers has investigated projects mainly focused on apprenticeships, including:
- Deliverability of apprenticeship standards and assessment plans
- The emergent end-point assessment market
- Sectoral interpretations of the 20% off-the-job training requirement
- The changing nature of apprentice recruitment practices
With over 800 organisations in membership, AELP is the UK’s largest representative body for training providers of all types – not for profit, commercial, Colleges and HEIs, chambers, employers, etc. For further information on AELP Research please contact Cath Gladding, Research Manager, at
Outstanding Teaching, Learning & Assessment Project (OTLA)
OTLA is an ETF-funded programme, delivered by AoC and emfec, that involves 21 collaborative projects across England.
The aim of the programme is to improve teaching, learning and assessment for learners on technical routes, with a focus on supporting the development of teachingpractice, pedagogic mastery, technical skill and stronger employer–provider links. The projects aim to be evidence based and research informed.
Details of the first 15 projects are available at further 6 projects have been funded and details of these will be added to this site shortly.
The Scholarship Project
Update from John Lea, Scholarship Project Director
The Scholarship Project now has 35 trials and tests projects taking place throughout the 46 colleges involved. These mini projects are collecting evidence and experimenting with ways to enhance the learning experience for college HE students through forms of scholarly activity. The results of these projects will start to be known from the end of September as we move towards the final phase of the project. The outputs from the trials and tests will be key in developing the final scholarship framework that can be utilised by all colleges with HE provision
A current focus is 'students as partners’, work supported by the National Union of Students (NUS). Projects include: Students as Research Ambassadors (Peterborough Regional College), Students as Interns (North Lindsey College) and Students and Peer Mentoring (Greater Brighton Metropolitan College)
For further details, see website:
Publications
Recent book by LSRN convenors Joel Petrie, Kevin Orr (and Maire Daley)
The Principal: Power and professionalism in FE:
This collection examines how power is exercised and experienced in the Further Education sector. The sequel to 'Further Education and the Twelve Dancing Princesses', this book is similarly playful, but deadly serious in intent.
Using Machiavelli’s celebrated and contested treatise 'The Prince' as a metaphorical guide, the contributors each take a different perspective to interrogate leadership, agency and professionalism in FE. The scope of The Principal is as wide as the sector, with chapters on adult education and the FE systems throughout the UK and in Ireland and Australia. The writers share a fierce commitment to FE and this book is a must-read for anyone who cares about how and where the FE sector is being led.
Published by Trentham Books.
Recent publication by LSRN convenor: Sai Loo
LSRN has held several events on vocational education and training recently. LSRN members may be interested in my forthcoming research monograph, 'Teachers and Teaching in Vocational and Professional Education' by Routledge which is due out on the 18th September 2017. The link is:
LSRN information
LSRN website
LSRN regional contacts
North East Maggie Gregson
North West Joel Petrie
Yorkshire & HumbersideKevin Orr
East Midlands Hayley Wood
West Midlands Rob Smith
Beds, Bucks and HertsSam
London & the South EastSai Loo
South Coast Martyn Howe
Bristol areaDiane
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