ACL benchmarking project

NDC is working with fforwm to replicate the quality benchmarking model that has been used across the FE sector in Wales in Adult and Community Learning. The project will identify a representative subset of ACL provision, review the outcomes from that provision and identify the critical success factors across provision.

The project team developed a protocol and secure framework for providers to share learner outcome data to identify good practice across Wales. The protocol emphasised the commitment to respect the confidentiality of the data and to present the outcomes of the project at a conference adhering to that principle. It was, however, agreed that the case studies would identify the provider to assist effective dissemination of good practice by allowing participants to seek additional information beyond the brief summary case study reports.

This project contributes to the Quality and Effectiveness Framework for post-16 and the development of self regulation in the sector, by identifying critical success factors in the best practice ACL in Wales. The project is in partnership with fforwm and builds on the experiences of conducting a similar project in the Further Education sector. The project is co-ordinated by a project team and steering group, which includes representatives from the fforwm Outreach Managers Group and Community Learning Wales. The regional groups of ACL managers co-ordinate the benchmarking initiative for each provider supported by NIACE Dysgu Cymru and fforwm. NIACE Dysgu Cymru and fforwm worked to facilitate and support the work in each region through the project team of Cerys Furlong, Gavin Thomas, Adrian Sheehan and Katy Burns, who worked closely with the regional consortia and facilitated the key regional meetings, provided information and support for those meetings and collected and analysed the data.

DCELLS

This work contributes to the DCELLS Quality and Effectiveness Framework for post-16 education.

cerys.furlong@niacedc.org.uk