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This report provides practical examples of how colleges are responding to the requirement to collect an increasing proportion of their income from course fees and is based upon the finding of interviews with 24 colleges across all LSC regions in England. Download to read more ...

This research project investigated the impact of changes to fee policies on recruitment to LSC-funded provision. The research was carried out by RCU between August 2006 and February 2007. The project explored college fee policies, fee levels and fee concessions. It focused on the impact of changes to tuition fees on recruitment and the overall effect of these changes on college fee income. Finally, the research explored full-cost recovery work (that is, work for which the costs are recovered in fees and added to the college'?s income) and the extent to which this had been increasing in recent years. Download to read more ...
(629 KB)

RCU was commissioned in March 2006 by the LSC to research current practice in the collection and use of learner satisfaction information by providers and to test proposals for a learner satisfaction measure across the learning and skills sector. This supported a commitment in the LSC's Corporate Plan to 2006, to monitor learner satisfaction as a means of improving the quality of teaching and learning. The scope of the research encompassed the whole of the learning and skills sector, including further education, work-based learning, school sixth form provision and adult and community learning. Download to read more ...
(2 MB)

This report was commissioned in March 2006 by the Learning and Skills Council to research current practice in the collection and use of learner satisfaction information by providers and to test proposals for a learner satisfaction measure across the learning and skills sector. Download to read more ...

The project examined provision and learner data in sparsely populated areas of England, with a particular focus on the South West region. It compared patterns of participation, learner success and progression in sparsely and densely populated areas and tested the case for the development of a sparsity factor in the funding methodology for post-16 learning. Download to read more ...
(30 MB)

RCU was commissioned in December 2006 by the QIA to investigate the impact of concentrations of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) on the effectiveness of the provision of services to employers and wider strategies to respond to the skills agenda in the further education system. This followed the proposal of a link in the FE White Paper between clusters of CoVEs and increased specialization. The report was based on a combination of desk research, a postal survey of 133 CoVE providers and field visits/in-depth telephone interviews with 70 CoVE providers. Download to read more ...
(2 MB)

RCU was commissioned in June 2006 by the Sixth Form Colleges Forum to provide an independent assessment of the impact that the establishment of Longley Park Sixth Form College had on participation and progression rates in relevant parts of Sheffield. Download to read more

This summary report presents findings from staff surveys in FE colleges carried out during the academic year 2005-06 and is based on the answers provided by the last 3,000 respondents. Lecturers, Middle Managers (Academic) and Learning Support staff accounted for 58% of responses. Download to read more ...
(2 MB)

This report explores differences in the response patterns of staff in General FE colleges and Sixth Form Colleges up to the end of the 2006/07 academic year. Download to read more ...
(253 KB)

This report was commissioned by the Sixth Form Colleges' Forum (SFCF) to produce evidence of the impact and performance of sixth form colleges compared to other forms of post-16 provision. SFCF asked RCU to devise a methodology that would allow comparison between different types of institution within a single geographical area. Download to read more ...

This report is based on a short survey of further education colleges carried out by RCU in August 2006. The purpose was to provide DfES with an early indication of the nature, scale and range of changes being introduced in fee policy by FE colleges in 2006/07. The development of full cost provision was of particular interest. Download to read more ...
(579 KB)

This research report understands the actual and potential impact of fee changes in the FE system in the context of the Skills Strategy policy to increase fees for some learners and the Skills Campaign. Download to read more ...

The Association of Colleges was created in 1996 as the single voice to promote the interests of further education colleges in England and Wales. To visit the website please click the link below ...

The purpose of the Department for Children, Schools and Families is to make England the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up. To visit the website please click the link below ...

This new Department brings together functions from two former departments. Science and innovation responsibilities from the Department of Trade and Industry. Skills, further and higher education from the Department for Education and Skills. To visit the website please click the link below ...

The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. Their goal is to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to ensure we have a workforce of world-class standard. To find out more about LSC, please click the link below ...

MRS serves MRS Company Partners agencies, suppliers of support services, buyers and end-users of all types and scale who are committed throughout their organisations to supporting the core MRS values of professionalism, research excellence and business effectiveness.

QCA develops the national curriculum, which defines the knowledge, understanding and skills to which children and young people are entitled. To visit the website please click the link below ...

The Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) has been set up to spark fresh enthusiasm for innovation and excellence in the Further Education sector. To visit the website please click the link below ...

RCU was commissioned by QIA to develop a toolkit to help providers examine their fee setting to generate more income by addressing the different segments they serve and setting fees accordingly.

RCU has been conducting staff surveys in the education and training sector since 1991. We offer both fully customised and benchmarked surveys using on-line and hard copy questionnaires, focus groups and interviews. Please download the information pack for options, prices and process. It should anser most of your questions, however if you need to discuss any of the options please drop us a line by sumbitting the 'ask a question' form and we will be more than happy to assist you.
(159 KB)