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T LEVELS
TRIPS REPORTS SUBMITTED: THE FOUR KEY FINDINGS
he Teacher Regional Improvement Projects (TRIPs) have submitted their fi nal reports and case studies.
TRIPs have been taking place as part of the T Level Professional Development (TLPD) off er from the Education and Training Foundation (ETF). Across England, T Level providers came together to focus on high-priority areas to share eff ective practice, research and fi nd solutions to challenges in preparation for T Level delivery.
Peer advisors were appointed to support the projects to develop their understanding of changes and to share ideas, promote discussion and disseminate eff ective evidence-based practice from the sector that would inform project design and planning. The advisors also provided the necessary challenge for TRIP partners to consider how they would measure successful project outcomes.
The key fi ndings and learning can be summarised into four themes. T SHUTTERSTOCK
1Collaboration and networking
Participants from the northern TRIPs said that the opportunity to collaborate internally and externally was one of the most positive impacts.
The projects have enabled staff to network, build cross-organisational relationships, discuss approaches for addressing subject-specialist content, share eff ective practice, and collaborate on ways of teaching diff erent topics to make them more engaging.
The willingness and enthusiasm of those involved has resulted in the development of sustainable working relationships that will continue beyond
the life of the projects and could be hugely benefi cial to staff , students and the local communities.
They also felt that establishing a model of subject-based networks that allowed teachers to share learning experiences, challenges and successful intervention strategies, and ideas and resources was really useful. Relationship and partnership-building enabled action-planning for quality improvement in technical teaching and learning. There was also an added benefi t of promoting staff wellbeing.
In the south, TRIP participants appreciated hearing about the approaches
of other providers, and said they found the insights informative and would share them with colleagues. The TRIPs gave the participants a shared sense of community and fostered a sense of camaraderie.
2Employer engagement
The new and enriched employer relationships that have been created are seen to be integral to the ongoing success of T Levels.
One benefit of this togetherness is that staff have been able to identify gaps in knowledge, undertake industry insight placements and attend employerled workshops to upskill their own practice and industry knowledge in fast-moving sectors.
For many, employers and providers have been working together on co-curriculum design, planning and delivery to ensure that learners will get the most out of their industry placements, which are a substantial element of the T Level course.
By working with employers to address communication strategies and review course content and resources, providers are preparing learners for the ways of working and behaviours expected of them in the work environment. In turn, employers better understand the student learning journey. One college intends to take T Level students to masterclasses run by local employers, particularly in the fi rst year, to help them prepare for their industry placements.
3Continuing professional development
For all, the remission funding provided for staff , within providers involved in a TRIP, has off ered the chance to prioritise meaningful professional development. This helps upskill staff through immersion in other elements of the TLPD off er and ensures staff feel better prepared to commence T Level delivery in 2020 or 2021.
One college said that without its TRIP it would not have the
Halesowen College has joined SET as corporate partner
dedicated resource in terms of employer engagement through STEM First, and key areas required for organisational development may have stayed uncovered.
4Innovative curriculum design
One college noted that its key learning from the TRIP was that preparing learners to understand diff erent assessment methods is key to successful T Level delivery.
They found that a more collaborative curriculum team approach to planning, delivery and assessment was needed because of the breadth of the T Level curriculum content. They also concluded a need for greater emphasis on rigorous tracking for monitoring learner progress and managing the holistic assessment process.
Another further education provider said that TRIP participation had impacted upon the organisation’s implementation of 2020/21 curriculum design to ensure learners are industry-ready, and that the needs of learners and stakeholders are taken into consideration.
In turn, requirements of the recently released Education Inspection Framework will be met, and curriculum design will enable appropriate sequencing.
The case studies from each TRIP will be published on the T Level Professional Development pages on the ETF’s website at etfoundation. co.uk/TLevels. You can also sign up to the TLPD bulletin, via the TLPD pages, to receive notifi cation of the publications and other updates.
NEWS IN BRIEF In other news...

NEW ANNUAL ETF BROCHURE RELEASED The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has announced its governmentfunded professional workforce development plans for 2020/21 for the further education (FE) sector in a new brochure. The plans display why the ETF is the national expert in designing and delivering effective CPD for the FE workforce. To access, visit etfoundation.
co.uk/about-us
#ETFSUPPORTSFE CAMPAIGN During the Covid-19 pandemic, the ETF launched the ‘ETFSupportsFE’ campaign to further promote the huge range of fi rst-class online CPD resources specifi cally for teachers, trainers, managers and leaders in the FE sector.
All are funded by the Department for Education and aimed at improving practice and supporting excellence. Find out more at etfoundation.co.uk/courses and follow the hashtag on social media.
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS CASE STUDY VIDEOS RELEASED New videos illustrating how the Professional Standards can underpin a change in staff development are now available to watch.
They focus on work at four provider institutions – Guernsey College, Lincoln College, MoD Lyneham and Waltham Forest College – that have moved away from topdown performance management to put responsibility into the hands of practitioners. For more information, visit etfoundation.co.uk/
professionalstandards
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Applying by the end of August will allow recruits to begin initial teacher education training by the end of September 2020 at the latest.
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IPFREC CHANGES The inaugural International Practice-Focused Research in Education Conference (IPFREC) has been postponed until July 2021. The ETF’s sixth annual Practitioner Research Conference will still take place in July 2020, but be held online.
INSPIRATIONAL CHILDREN REPORT RELEASED The ETF and the Council for Disabled Children have published Tomorrow’s Leaders – A World Beyond Disability, which profi les the achievements of over 30 inspirational young people who are leading in their communities with a dedication to improving society.
NEW SET CORPORATE PARTNERSHIP A warm welcome to two new corporate partners of the Society for Education and Training (SET): Halesowen College (pictured, left) and New Directions College. Corporate partners have access to a range of professional development opportunities for their staff that can help providers improve outcomes for learners. Find out more about the benefi ts at set.et-foundation.co.uk/
membership/set-corporate-partners
SUBSCRIBE TO ETF NEWSLETTERS Receive regular updates from the ETF on new and updated CPD courses and resources as well as selected topic areas. Sign up at etfoundation.co.uk/ newsletters
CFEM HANDBOOKS PUBLISHED Handbooks developed through the Centres for Excellence in Maths (CfEM) programme have been released to support FE maths teaching up to Level 2. The evidence-based resources follow four core themes of activity: mastery, contextualisation, motivating and engaging learners, and data and technology. First editions are available at etfoundation.co.uk/cfem
ETF GUIDE TO FE UPDATED The ETF has updated its guide on the FE system in England, So What Is the FE Sector? The guide (below) explains what the FE sector is and the opportunities offered to potential learners, their parents, teachers and trainers, and employers. Visit
etfoundation.co.uk/about-us
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Members can now access free telephone legal advice on queries including employment issues and data protection. Visit
set.et-foundation. co.uk/membership/ law-express
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