These are exemplified in a Handbook produced collaboratively by stakeholders including teachers in FE. The professional development programme involves teachers in teaching lessons based on these principles and engaging in a lesson study process with colleagues across colleges. This involves them in rich and deep conversations about teaching and learning using a mastery approach.

The programme builds on a randomised controlled efficacy trial that was carried out over the course of the 2021-22 academic year. Encouragingly this found that the intervention in the form now being trialled at scale had a positive impact on student learning that is equivalent to one month’s extra learning for students taught by teachers who took part. Even more encouraging was the outcome in terms  of students with the most disadvantaged backgrounds: for them the learning gain was equivalent to two months. Given that the GCSE resit course is experienced over approximately eight months this is very encouraging. The report of results of this trial can be found here.

The current project develops the programme to explore if it can replicate the promise it has shown when carried out at scale. Recruitment to the study will take place in the period February – June 2024. The intervention will take place throughout the academic year 2024-5 and the evaluation will be undertaken by independent evaluators NatCen (National Centre for Social Research). Results won’t be available until the following year after substantial analysis of GCSE outcomes and surveys taken by teachers and students as well as case study work.

Further information

Efficacy trial results