LEARNING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

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LEARNING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

• INCREASED FLEXIBILITY SUPPORT PROGRAMME

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Local Network Projects

• Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA)
• Help schools and colleges prepare for significant
  expansion of vocational education at Key Stage 4
• Introduction of Vocational GCSEs (VGCSEs)
• Implementation of DfES programme Increased
  Flexibility for 14-16 year olds

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Local Network Projects Features

• An ongoing interchange between members - not a
  series of events
• Members share a particular focus or interest
• Purpose of the network is to share information
  and practices in order to learn and improve
  quality
• There are shared and supported opportunities to
  undertake developmental work on particular aspects

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Local Network Aim

• Aim
• The aim of the local network is to facilitate
• the changes to vocational education that will
• take place from September 2002 - particularly
• the introduction of Vocational GCSEs and the
• Increased Flexibility for 14-16 Year Olds
• programme

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Local Network Objectives

• Objectives
• Establish which schools and colleges will be
  introducing VGCSEs in September 2002
• Establish which local schools and colleges will
  be engaged in the DfES Increased Flexibility for
  14-16 Year Olds programme

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Local Network Objectives

• Objectives
• Assess the support, information and other needs
  of schools and colleges - particularly in
  relation to
• the development of appropriate teaching and
  learning styles
• processes and skills
• qualifications and subject criteria
• assessment and grading
• moderation systems
• delivery models
• dissemination of practical source materials
• disapplication

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Local Network Objectives

• Objectives
• Devise a strategy to provide support and
  disseminate information to meet local needs and
  priorities
• Implement the strategy
• Monitor and evaluate progress - wit a view to
  continuing and improving the strategy beyond the
  first year
• Networks may devise secondary objectives -
  provided they have fulfilled primary and the
  secondary relate to promotion of vocational and
  work related learning at KS4

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Local Network Activities

• Activities which are eligible for funding
  support
• Development of wider or improved networking
  arrangements, especially using ICT (e.g.
  e-networking and teleconferencing)
• Network membership expansion and development into
  new areas (e.g. engaging new schools or setting
  up employer networks)
• Development of network activities, especially
  those which lead to greater involvement of
  students (e.g. student apprenticeship schemes,
  improved pre- and post-16 transition
  arrangements, student conferences)
• Establishment of a new network within the current
  partnership or consortium. The need must be
  clearly demonstrated
• Support for an existing network to create
  networking opportunities with a new consortium or
  partnership
• Extension of CPD opportunities in creative and
  innovative ways to improve participation and/or
  widen the scope of interventions

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Local Network Outcomes and Funding

• Outcomes
• Devise a set of objectives for the funding period
• Draw up a set of targets related to the
  objectives for the period
• Monitor and evaluate progress towards objectives
  and targets
• Report back on progress to LSDA
• Funding
• Purpose of funding is to add value to network
  activities
• Up to 15,000 available

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Local Network Outcomes and Funding

• Funding based on the following criteria
• Size, extent and scope of network
• Number and range of partner organisations
• Number of members involved in the network
• Geographic coverage of network
• Range of activities undertaken
• Amount and source of frunding currently used to
  support network activities

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Placement Co-ordinators Network

• Increased Flexibility for 14-16 Year Olds
• 40,000 placements for selected schools and pupils
  in Year 10 from September 2002
• Placements delivered mainly by local colleges and
  training providers with funding from the DfES
• LSDAs role to ensure that schools and partners
  make most of opportunities
• Make support available for those responsible for
  co-ordinating the placements between schools and
  providers

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Placement Co-ordinators Network Key Features

• An ongoing interchange between members - not a
  series of events
• Members share a particular focus or interest
• Purposes of the network is to share information
  and practices in order to learn and improve the
  quality There are shared and supported
  opportunities to undertake developmental work on
  particular aspects

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Placement Co-ordinators Local Network Aim

• Aim
• The aim is to establish a local network that
• will provide support to placement
• coordinators involve in DfES Increased
• Flexibility for 14-16 Year Olds programme

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Placement Co-ordinators Local Network

• Objectives
• Assess the support, information and other needs
  of designated school co-ordinators - particuarly
  in relation to
• Strategic concerns
• Setting up the link
• Designing the curriculum
• Organisational and logistical considerations
• Communications
• Monitoring and Evaluation

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Placement Co-ordinators Local Network

• Objectives
• Devise a strategy to provide support and
  disseminate information to meet local needs and
  priorities
• Implement the strategy
• Monitor and evaluate progress - wit a view to
  continuing and improving the strategy beyond the
  first year
• Networks may devise secondary objectives -
  provided they have fulfilled primary and the
  secondary relate to school co-ordinators involved
  in the promotion of partnerships aimed at
  vocational and work related learning at KS4 (
  whether in or outside the Increased Flexibility
  programme)

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Placement Co-ordinators Local Network Activities

• To undertake activities in one or more of the the
  following eligible categories
• Set up networks of student placement
  co-ordinators where they do not already exist -
  meetings and e-group, and or twilight sessions
• Funding placement co-ordinators to undertake a
  development project within their partnership
  aimed at improving their own operation through
  improved networking activities

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Placement Co-ordinators Local Network Activities

• Funding existing networks of placement
  co-ordinators to add value to their current
  activities through specified development work,
  especially using ICT
• Network membership expansion and development into
  new areas - especially those which lead to
  greater involvement of teachers and lecturers
• establishment of a new network within the current
  partnership or consortium - the need must e
  clearly demonstrated

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Placement Co-ordinators Local Network Outcomes
and Funding

• Funding to be based on the following criteria
• Size, extent and scope of network
• Number and range of partner organisations
• Number of members involved in the network
• Geographic coverage of network
• Range of activities undertaken
• Amount and source of funding currently used to
  support network activities
• Costed action plan for the proposed development
  activity