WIREDGOV

2000 + learners participate in research to ensure their provision is demand-led.

Client Issue

Local Authorities (LAs) recognise the importance of offering ‘personalised’ and ‘demand-led’ provision to support the success of its young people in education and employment. The Bournemouth and Poole 14–19 Team is a joint Bournemouth Borough Council and Borough of Poole Team, and commissioned LSN in February 2010 to conduct some research on the views, learning experiences and aspirations of young people in order to be able to tailor provision accordingly.

LSN Experience

The research requested by the Bournemouth and Poole Team ultimately needed to capture learner voice. It therefore required a large number of learners to participate to gain a representative picture of learners in the area; and an organisation who could administer a large scale survey efficiently. LSN could meet this challenge well, having gained 25 years experience of working within the education sector, and its research department specifically engaging with learners and a range of providers on a regular basis.

LSN Response

The central aim of the project was to ensure that all learners aged 14–19 in Bournemouth and Poole were given an opportunity to engage in the future development and planning of provision across the local area.

LSN developed a three phased approach, findings of which were presented in a report. The three phased approach was:

1. A literature review of key policy research and evaluation documents and reports.
2. An online and paper based survey of learners between March-May 2010.
3. Seven focus groups with a wide range of learners to gain an indepth understanding of learner opinion and thinking.

A PDF of the report is available to download here

A key challenge of the work was to achieve a high response rate from learners by successfully recruiting providers in Bournemouth and Poole to take part. LSN used its experience of learner participation in surveys and focus groups to develop a rapport with providers and offered the flexibility of both paper and online surveys to maximise response rates. LSN knew the questions posed to young people had to be understandable and engaging; and equally needed to reflect the information requirements of the Team, so carried out a pilot with 20 young people. Overall LSN took a very thorough approach to ensure the data collected was of high quality and findings could therefore be reliable and support the Bournemouth and Poole Team to develop it’s 14–19 strategic plan.

The high participation rate from young people in the survey was instrumental to the success of the project. In total, 17 out of 18 providers (16 schools and 1 Further Education college) participated from the target sample. This secured an 89% response rate from schools and over 90% response rate for pupils aged 11-18. In total 2,003 responses were collected in the survey between March and May 2010. This sample provided a 95% probability of accurately representing the views of the target population.

The project successfully collected information on:
- young people’s learning experiences
- the nature of the courses they studied
- the learning environment
- their aspirations, progression routes and barriers
- their future pathways.

This information gathered provided a platform to voice learner experiences and opinion on parts of the education system local authorities can influence. The report delivered analysis of both the survey and focus group, findings of which supported Bournemouth and Poole Team in the development of its 14–19 Strategic Plan.

Capturing and understanding the learner voice successfully helped the local authority make plans for the future and ensure that the provision it offers are demand-led, tailored and personalised to learner’s needs where possible.

A PDF of the report is available to download here.

Download this case study in PDF.

FInd out more:

Get in touch with our research team
E: research@lsnlearning.org.uk
T: 020 7492 5000