Abi: access student

My life had come crashing down. I’d lost a lot of my confidence. I had heard about this course. I signed up and it changed my life.

Dean: construction apprentice

'It has changed me. Things are possible.'

Guy: access and ESOL student

I have to respond to the needs of the country I am living in… When I look at myself, I am so proud.

Claire: teacher educator

'I think it's important for my students to become critical and to look at the world around them.'

Herbert: photographer

'With further education, what I’ve made is another path for myself.'

About

Overview of the project

Transformational Further Education: Empowering People & Communities.

This research aims to understand and provide evidence of how the further education (FE) sector is vital in transforming lives and communities in 21st century Britain. To provide a frame of reference, which is underpinned and driven by excellence in the sector, the study will provide learners and teachers with the opportunity to tell their stories, linking the distinctness of FE to the impact it has on individuals, society and the economy, and strongly drawing out the role of the teacher in making a difference to quality teaching and learning.

The two researchers undertaking this project, Vicky Duckworth and Rob Smith aim to inform and facilitate UCU’s empowering and inclusive vision of FE and will be a rich source of evidence to draw upon in campaigning work in order to influence policy makers and shape policy.

Watch our introductory video below.

Latest

Jennifer Addo: Transformative Teaching and Learning scholar

Jennifer works at South and City College Birmingham where she is a middle manager. She is also undertaking research and studying for a doctorate. In this video Jenn tells the story of how she first entered further education and why. She outlines the power of theory and how it is important for positioning oneself in…

Dear students, teachers, educationalists, researchers and the local and wider community, We hope you are keeping well and safe in what is a unprecedented time. We are aware that many will be self-isolating and with the current lock-down, home will be your haven. In these times when a lot of teaching is shifting online,…

We have created an audio collage of different voices of students and teachers from across the country. They give a sense of the difficult issues currently faced by colleges as well as of the inspiring narratives that continue to inspire. This audio collage was first aired as part of the Reimagining Further Education Conference at…

Extracts from an interview from the “FE in England: Transforming Lives and Communities Project” – carried out by Vicky Duckworth & Rob Smith and commissioned by UCU. Eugene talks about his journey: from leaving school with no GCSEs, through further education at college and ultimately ending with a Masters qualification. He now works in HE.…

The Value of Adult Education

Kerry Scattergood is an adult literacy tutor, delivering functional skills in the adult & community team at Solihull College and University Centre. She believes in empowering learners’ voices through literacy events and that real reading and writing experiences can be transformative for adult learners. Kerry blogs at: everydayliteracyproject.wordpress.com, sharing her ideas and practice with other…

Annie Pendrey My learning journey began in FE and studying to be a Nursery Nurse as careers told I could never teach as my parents could not support me financially to go to University. I am now a Professional Development Manager in an FE institution, teaching and observing trainee teachers alongside associate lecturing for a…

In this second extract from her interview, Jacqui talks about the vital community work colleges are involved in. Jacqui’s interview positions colleges at the heart of the communities in which they are situated. She links further education colleges’ work to wider social issues such as addressing the effects of poverty and issues of mental health.…

In this interview, Jacqui talks about her work as a teacher in a further education college in Birmingham. She outlines the vital work colleges do that is often overlooked, such as: working with gang members and with young people who have not thrived at school. She recounts stories in which…

I have been following for a long while the valuable project “Transformational Further Education: Empowering People & Communities”, the culmination of research based on the very many inspiring stories from learners and teachers, collated by Dr Vicky Duckworth and Dr Rob Smith. It was brought to life on the very first occasion I had the…

At 16, I was buried under GCSE stress, not quite fitting in, and ready to get out of my small town. I was looking for colleges, and I, for whatever reason, may it be the location, the hot-spot of culture, or the people, decided that I was undeniably going to attend The Manchester College. That…

Teaching and Learning scholar : Catherine Shiel

I am a Business Tutor and Course Leader at West Lancashire College which is a division of one of the largest FE providers in the UK. Whilst part of a national group, WLC is a small FE college at the heart of a community in the North West of England, Skelmersdale. I became a teacher…

Teaching and Learning Scholar: Chantal Brown

Place of work: Sandwell College, Role: Lecturer in Foundation Learning I have supported young people with SEND in a variety of roles for over 15 years. My background is in media/drama and as well as teaching, I have been a project manager for a government funded community initiative and designed bespoke programmes of education for…

In July, we completed and had published a summative report that gathers together the findings of the research so far undertaken. With a Foreword by Angela Rayner, the Shadow Education Secretary, the report turns a spotlight onto the powerful and important work that further education colleges do. We wanted to focus on the social benefits…

Now is the time to use the power of government to restore fairness for further education. As all who work in colleges know, since 2009 further education has been subjected to cut after cut –and these cuts have gone far beyond anything endured by other sectors of education. In effect,these cuts have hurt the communities…

Further Education in England: transforming lives and communities

Abi: access student

Dean: construction apprentice

Guy: access and ESOL student

Claire: teacher educator

Herbert: photographer

About

Overview of the project

Latest

Jennifer Addo: Transformative Teaching and Learning scholar

Resources of Hope

Reimagining further education 2019

Eugene: from student to teacher

Case studies

The Value of Adult Education

Engaging with the Sharing Transformational Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Jacqui, Assistant Principal (video #2): Colleges and their communities

Jacqui: Assistant Principal

Transformative research about transforming lives through learning

FE that made me a better person

Noticeboard

Teaching and Learning scholar : Catherine Shiel

Teaching and Learning Scholar: Chantal Brown

Resources of Hope

Transformative teaching and learning in further education: summative report

Restore fairness to Further Education