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Developing a strategy for Learner Voice at Zenith Apprenticeship - a work-based learning provider
Zenith Apprenticeship is a post-16 citizenship champion and is currently developing a learner involvement strategy in partnership with Nuneaton Training.
This work is a response to the requirements set down in the recent FE white paper, Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances, for all FE providers to have a learner involvement strategy in place by September 2007.
Staff from Zenith Apprenticeship initially met with staff from Nuneaton Training to discuss how to proceed and agree milestones for the project. The aim was to produce a “Learner Voice strategy” for each of work-based learning organisation.
The providers’ first objective was to design a learner voice questionnaire with input from staff and learners. This informed the design and content of the questionnaire and several changes were made as result, for example ensuring that the language and style of questions included some visual content, for example learners requested use of smiley faces with a question in which they are asked to indicate how satisfied they are in the support they are given to resolve issues. It was important to communicate the research to staff in the work-based unit to gain support and commitment to the project’s potential for success and raise awareness of the importance of Learner voice in the continuing improvement of quality systems in the delivery of Apprenticeships and the entry 2 employment programme. A paper was circulated introducing the project to staff at a team meeting.
The help of tutors was enlisted in getting the questionnaires completed in class timestaff working on the project facilitated some of this work by attending class sessions and introducing the concept of Learner voice to Apprentices. In total 200 questionnaires were issued and 121 were returned. Once the questionnaires were submitted raw data was assessed and follow on questions designed for five separate focus groups of between 6 – 12 young people. The purpose of the focus groups was gain a greater depth to the information from learners to inform the development of a Learner voice strategy that fits with learners’ views.
Interim findings were presented to Zenith staff which allowed for further discussion and debate about the development of the strategy and also enabled staff to voice concerns in a supportive environment and gave an opportunity to introduce and further develop staff training in relation to the learner voice. See a copy of the presentation of the findings here.
Learners who took part in the focus groups made it clear that they would like to meet on a regular basis in order to discuss issues important to their programme and in order to represent collective views. Many felt it necessary to be able to develop active citizenship skills. Skills identified included negotiation, debating, conflict resolution, analytical skills and the self-confidence to engage in community participation to bring about change.
The draft strategy resulting from this project will go to the governors/academic board in order to become effective as from September 2007.
For more information contact Alice Pethick on 07740 419 325 or email apethick@warkscol.ac.uk