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NEON > Programmes > Working Groups > Supporting Access, Success and Progression for Vocational Learners

Supporting Access, Success and Progression for Vocational Learners

This Working Group is organised by Specialist Evidence, Evaluation and Research (SEER) by Applied Inspiration and the University of Leeds.

The Working Group focuses on sharing ideas and existing practice around work supporting pathways into and through HE for BTEC learners and learners following associated vocational qualification programmes – CACHE Diplomas, Cambridge Tech and T levels. As well as research being undertaken in this space, and hope that this will lead to a more joined up approach across the sector.

Please join us and help to build this network. If you have any queries about this working group contact neon@uwl.ac.uk.

Scheduled Events

For upcoming meeting dates please view our Events Calendar Here >>

Attendance at Working Group meetings is free to NEON members. Non-members are welcome to attend but there is a fee of £80 per meeting.

Working Group Materials

2023

January

Recording: https://vimeo.com/790878893/568e307554

Presentation from Ria: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NEON-19.01.23.pdf

Presentation from Sue: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NEON.pdf

Presentation from Ellie: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/T-Levels-NEON-ER-UCAS.pdf

2022

September 2022

Recording –  https://vimeo.com/756334531/a78377f171

Ria’s presentation – https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NEON-29.09.22.pdf

Catherine’s presentation – https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NEON-Vocational-Learners-WG-29-Sep-22_for-sharing.pdf

June 2022

  • Recording – https://vimeo.com/724877734/88a4389efe
  • Working Group presentation – https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NEON-Working-Group-meeting-28th-June.pdf
  • Ria’s presentation – https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NEON-update-27.06.22-Ria-Bhatta.pdf
  • James’s presentation – https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/0622-NEON-update-James.pdf
  • Padlet – https://universityofleeds.padlet.org/rsykes15/k6xg6iq13pv79nah

2021 – December

  • Recording: https://vimeo.com/657532379
  • Ria Bhatta presentation: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/NEON-update-16.12.21.pdf
  • New ToR: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Vocational-Learners-Working-Group-Amended-TOR-November-1.pdf
  • Guiding Principles: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/A2300-Pearson-BTEC-Neon-22PG-PRF5-1.pdf
  • Rebecca Foster T-level guide: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Tlevels-A-guide.pdf
  • Also see Rebecca Foster sways:

https://sway.office.com/cikLXNyNfExwU7aV?ref=Link

https://sway.office.com/oAVqWBaXfLiBe5qJ?ref=Link

  • Chat Feature: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chat-feature-16.12.21.pdf

2021 – October

  • Recording: https://vimeo.com/623641606/494cfd88af
  • Link to the #ProtectStudentChoice campaign website: https://www.protectstudentchoice.org/
  • Link to the petition can be found here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/592642
  • Ria Bhatta, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Pearson presentation: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Ria-Bhatta-Peasons.pdf
  • Matt Elliott and Dan Bond, University of Leeds presentation: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Skills-to-Success-at-University-MOOC-NEON.pdf
  • Register for the videos from Dan and Matt’s presentation here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/skills-to-succeed-at-university?utm_source=email&utm_medium=plus_student_success_current_students&utm_campaign=EE-skills-to-succeed-at-university

2021 – June

  • Recording
  • Ria Bhatta, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Pearson
  • Judith O’Neill, Director, Uxbridge College 
  • Rebecca Sykes, Student Education Services Manager, University of Leeds 
  • Chris Bayes, Outreach and Student Success Manager, Lancaster University
  • Rebecca Foster, Outreach Officer, University of East Anglia

2021 – March

  • Recording 
  • Chat Feature
  • Chris Bayes, Group Chair
  • Ria Bhatta, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Pearson 
  • Pearson Guide
  • Professor Graeme Atherton, Director, NEON 
  • NEON Report
  • Nicky Turnbull, Director of Higher Education, Newcastle College
  • Ria Bhatta, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Pearson 
  • Working Group guide

2021 – January

  • Recording
  • Chris’s presentation
  • Pearson’s Commentary for HE institutions on the DfE Review of Post-16 Qualifications at Level 3: 2nd Stage
  • Ria Bhatta, Head of Stakeholder Engagement, Pearson
  • Zoe Baker, ‘But you did this in A-level’
  • Dr Ben Edwards, Student Success Officer (FASS), Lancaster University
  • Chat feature

2020 – September

Recording: https://vimeo.com/461896198/80e1b3fe30

Presentation: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Supporting-BTEC-students-Working-Group-25th-September.pdf

Chat feature: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Chat-feature-25.09.20.pdf

Presentation by Debbie Smith and Gemma Mcdonald: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Neon-Level-2-presentation.pdf

Delegate list: https://www.educationopportunities.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Delegate-list-25.09.20.pdf

2020 – June

‘Guiding Principles’– Chris Bayes (Lancaster University), Rebecca Foster (University of East Anglia) & Rebecca Sykes (University of Leeds)

Naomi Clements (Southern Universities Network)

Dr Eugenia Katartzi (University of Nottingham)

Delegate list

Recording of the meeting

2020 – February

Minutes from the meeting 

‘Connecting Research and Practice’ conference co-convened by Chris and colleagues from Sussex last summer

2019 – September

Minutes from the meeting

Presentation from the meeting

2019 – July

‘Transforming Transitions’
Dr Debra Myhill, University of Exeter
‘This presentation will outline the remit of the Transforming Transitions project, exploring the transition from post-16 education to university, with a particular focus on students with BTEC qualifications. It will then outline the findings from the project, illustrating the range of challenges and barriers faced at university for students with ‘non-standard’ backgrounds. It will show the complexity of the relationships between prior qualification and background, and make recommendations for the sector’.

Drawing lessons from current research
Alexander Blower, PhD candidate in education and inequality, University of Wolverhampton
‘Drawing on data from his doctoral research, Alex will examine the social conditions in which a white working-class male student negotiates his expectations for the future in education and work. Focusing on the case of a single participant whose intention was to attend a local college, the presentation will examine the complex, historically embedded nature of educational decision making, and its influence on which educational trajectories are deemed to be possible.’

Minutes 

Full evaluation framework

2019 – March

Minutes from 27th March meeting.

ToR for sub group one.

ToR for sub group two.

2019 – January

PPT NERUPI Evaluation Framework (28 January 2019)

Lancaster University PPT: Working with IntoUniversity to develop a set of shared resources to support BTEC students (28 January 2019)

IntoUniversity PPT by Rachel Cutress, Senior Education Worker, IntoUniversity
(28 January 2019)

Meeting minutes (28 January 2019)

2018 – September

Ucas PPT: The current picture: applications from BTEC students
(19 September 2018)

Case Study by Hayley Dalton, Head of Vocational Design, Pearson Education
(19 September 2018)

AoC PPT: The role of FE colleges: how can we work with colleges to best support the effective transition of BTEC students
(19 September 2018)

Meeting Minutes (19 September 2019)

Resources

Pearson UK

Guidance for each subject of the reformed RQF BTEC Nationals.

Resources for Extended Project tutors and assessors

University of Manchester – EPQ resources recommended for writing extended reports.

Six Strategies for Effective Learning – Materials for Teachers and Students

Learning Scientists – recommend for their evidence based approach.

THE DAY

The Day is a good source of current material and questions for discussion. Recommended for practising synoptic papers that require reading for information and critical analysis.

#CogSciSci – an introduction – A Chemical Orthodoxy

Network of science teachers interested in cognitive science and how to improve revision/learning.

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