Both nationally and internationally there is a drive to increase participation in post-compulsory education. Yet with existing participation rates already high by historical standards, it is not easy to see how this can be done. Now Liz Thomas provides a comprehensive guide. From an analysis of the motives for expansion and the reasons why students enroll--or fail to enroll--through to a critical analysis of existing and innovative schemes, the author highlights good practice and explains ways to develop a strategic approach to widening participation.

Improving Learning by Widening Participation in Higher Education presents a strong and coherent rationale for improving learning for diverse students from a range of socio-economic, ethnic/racial and gender backgrounds within higher education, and for adults across the life course. Edited by Miriam David, the Associate Director of the ESRC’s highly successful Teaching and Learning Research Programme, with contributions from the seven projects on Widening Participation in Higher Education (viz Gill Crozier and Diane Reay; Chris Hockings; Alison Fuller and Sue Heath; Anna Vignoles; Geoff Hayward and Hubert Ertl; Julian Williams and Pauline Davis; Gareth Parry and Ann-Marie Bathmaker), this book provides clear and comprehensive research evidence on the policies, processes, pedagogies and practices of widening or increasing participation in higher education. This evidence is situated within the contexts of changing individual and institutional circumstances across the life course, and wider international transformations of higher education in relation to the global knowledge economy. Improving Learning by Widening Participation in Higher Education also considers: the changing UK policy contexts of post-compulsory education; how socio-economically disadvantaged students – raced and gendered – fare through schools and into post-compulsory education; the kinds of academic and vocational courses, including Maths, undertaken; the changing forms of institutional and pedagogic practices within higher education; how adults view the role of higher education in their lives. This book, based upon both qualitative studies and quantitative datasets, offers a rare insight into the overall implications for current and future policy and will provide a springboard for further research and debate. It will appeal both to policy-makers and practitioners, as well as students within higher education.

With an emphasis on developing higher-order learning skills, such as reflection, critical evaluation and action research, this book provides a comprehensive guide to contemporary and contextual issues within post-compulsory education. This book: * Helps students fulfill Qualified Teacher in Further Education (QTFE) criteria * Provides information and advice on provision for the 14-19 sector * Is structured specifically around the FENTO values * Includes mind-maps charting links to FENTO standards * Provides help with assignments through reflective questions and discussion points

This book looks at the issues facing teachers and trainers currently working in the field of post compulsory education including questions of vocationalism, managerialism, professionalism, accountability, and educational research. Although aimed in part at raising awareness of such issues and the contrasting views which might be held it is intended that readers will use the book to develop an active engagement with these issues.

'Making Learning Happen' offers a practical discussion of teaching and learning for the post-compulsory sector of higher and further education.

This text focuses on the political context of lifelong learning. It addresses the background, European and policy elements of lifelong learning, as well as providing a detailed consideration of the linkage of educational and political issues in this subject.

This timely new handbook will be an essential read for all college staff who find themselves involved in mentoring trainee teachers in post-compulsory education, either through choice or necessity! Describing all of the expectations, responsibilities and rewards involved in mentoring college teachers in training; the book provides advice and support on: * What to expect as a mentor and what your mentee expects of you! * Organizing and conducting observations * Time management * Using appropriate language with your mentee * What to do when things go wrong! Accessible, practical and supportive, this book will help make mentoring an easier, more enjoyable and ultimately rewarding experience for all new mentors in the post-compulsory workplace. It will also be of great value to both teachers trainers and key staff in colleges, such as staff development managers, who play an important role in overseeing the delivery and quality of mentoring activities.

Issues of access, social exclusion and widening participation dominate educational policy agendas and are a shared global challenge. Participation in higher education and adult lifelong learning activities can be a life-changing experience that opens up new opportunities. However, access remains unequal. People from lower socio-economic backgrounds, those living in the most deprived areas and people from minority ethnic groups are underrepresented. In this book, we focus on how we can move the field of widening participation forward, paying specific attention to the theories and methods we can use to better understand and tackle the problem of underrepresented groups in post-compulsory education, and how individuals and institutions can be supported. We argue that in order to make sense of these issues, it is important to engage in both the findings of widening participation research and the theoretical foundations which underpin them. This way, alternative perspectives on the widening participation agenda and emerging research and policy can be explored from alternative perspectives. This book was originally published as a special issue of Studies in Continuing Education.

Credit is intertwined with higher education around the world and this book introduces and analyses the long-term effects that this connection brings. Structured in three parts, the book is grounded in experience, practitioner research and detailed policy analysis. The greater availability of credit in higher education is closely tied to policies of widening access and this book addresses current issues including the consequences of Brexit, standards in higher education and the management of mobile student learning. The contributors to this book: -Explore the development and integration of credit within institutional policy -Outline the systems of student progression and achievement, including methods of assessment and measurement -Examine the official account of credit, widening access and curriculum in the UK -Analyse how credit can facilitate flexibility in curriculum design The book is relevant to anyone engaged in educational development, academic policy and learner support. The breadth of contributions from across the UK ensures the variation in policies is mapped and charts the implications for learners. “Rarely does a text come along which tackles challenging, technical aspects of higher education and presents them in an accessible and creative way. “ Maureen McLaughlin, Academic Registrar, Northumbria University, UK “This is a scholarly and timely analysis of the development of systems for recognising academic credit within the context of widening access to higher education.” Dr Marie Stowell, Director of Quality and Educational Development, University of Worcester, UK “This book is required reading for anyone interested in the future of higher education in a rapidly changing world.” Dr Andy W. Smith, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education "It is hard to find enough words of praise for this excellent collection of essays.” Herman de Leeuw, Executive Director and Founder, Groningen Declaration Network Wayne Turnbull was Head of Academic Policy and is now a historian at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. Harvey Woolf was Head of Academic Standards at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. He is a founder member of the Student Assessment and Classification Working Group.

This authoritative volume is a truly international contribution to the worldwide debate on how best to widen access to lifelong learning. The first section of the book comprises research studies from around the world, reflecting the diversity of contexts in which widening access is researched and considers issues central to the access debate, including different understandings of the concept of access, organisational and structural change, curriculum development, entry policies, performance and retention and labour market outcomes. The second section illustrates diverse and innovative methodological approaches that have been employed by researchers in the field, and considers the range of approaches available. Given the growing concern around the world on the need to combat social exclusion and to improve economic circumstances through access to lifelong learning, this book acts as a unique reference point informing the ongoing debate, exploring the relationships between research, policy and practice.