157 Group publishes project report on curriculum redesign
30th April 2013
The 157 Group has published a report detailing the findings of a 157 Group project supported by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) and undertaken with support from the Centre for the Use of Research and Evidence in Education (CUREE). Seven action research projects aimed to establish the challenges and opportunities for further education colleges to redesign elements of their curriculum offer in order to be more responsive to need.
College capacity for curriculum change has sometimes been constrained by a lack of staff skills, a lack of appropriate infrastructure, inadequate market information and inflexible staffing structures. The report shines a light on ways in which 157 Group member colleges and others are overcoming these constraints, and offers examples that may be followed by others.
Lynne Sedgmore, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "Colleges are increasingly rising to the challenge of designing a curriculum that is responsive to need, and they are enjoying the new freedom that they have to do this. This report highlights not only the steps that the colleges themselves have taken, but also those areas where constraints still exist. We hope that this publication will serve as a guide for others embarking upon a redesign of their curriculum and contribute to the debate around what still needs to be done to ensure that that curriculum is genuinely flexible and responsive.
"The 157 Group looks forward to continuing to support its members as they examine the shape and form of their curriculum to ensure it best meets the needs of learners and the economy."
ENDS
Notes for editors
The press notice is available online at http://www.157group.co.uk/news
The report, Curriculum redesign in further education colleges: exploring current challenges and opportunities, is available at http://www.157group.co.uk/files/curriculum_redesign_-_157_project_reportcurriculum_redesign_in_further_education_colleges_exploring_current_challenges_and_opportunities.pdf
About the 157 Group
The 157 Group represents 27 of the most influential colleges in the FE sector. It was formed in 2006 in response to paragraph 157 of Sir Andrew Foster's report on the future of further education colleges, in which he argued that principals of large successful colleges should play a greater role in policymaking.
CONTACT
Andy Gannon
07581 354750
The 157 Group Limited
PO Box 58147
London
SW8 9AF
