Evaluating support for advanced professional practice in further education and training

Any profession needs advanced practitioners who share their expertise with their colleagues to maintain high standards, and a research base to underpin good professional practice.  The further education and vocational training sector is no different. SQW have been working with the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) to evaluate the experiences of participants on three of its programmes that support advanced practice and practitioner research. 

For 2021-22, all three are focussing on basic skills (English, maths, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Essential Digital Skills (EDS)). The programmes are:

  • Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment (OTLA), one of ETF’s longest running programmes which enables practitioners to take charge of their own CPD by undertaking collaborative action research projects.
  • Practitioner Research Programme (PRP), a programme of research training, academic supervision and mentoring support delivered by the University of Sunderland’s Centre for Excellence in Teacher Training (SUNCETT
  • The Advanced Practitioner Programme (APP) to equip practitioners with the pedagogical competencies and confidence for teaching and assessment by developing organisations’ capacity to provide peer support and guidance.

SQW are delivering a theory informed evaluation that explores the process of implementation and the effects of these programmes on both practitioners themselves and their organisations.  We will use evidence from research interviews and case studies with participating practitioners, organisations, and design and delivery partners as well as participation data from the ETF booking system and participant surveys. Our aim is to provide ETF and its partners and stakeholders with a rigorous, independent assessment of the achievements of each programme alongside a set of strategic recommendations for future development 

If you would like to know more about this evaluation, please contact Jo Hutchinson.​​​​​