On 17th May 2021 an important new Research College Group will be launched.

The group represents 10 founder organisations comprised of General Further Education and Sixth Form colleges who lead in practitioner research.

These organisations have come together to bring practitioner and other forms of post-16 education and training research, into the heart of sector organisations

This collaborative endeavour is run by and for the sector and seeks to raise the profile, standing and value of post-16 education and training through its own research undertaken by its own community, and by leading thinking to develop forms of research and enquiry that reflect the requirements of the sector.

The 10 founder member organisations are: Activate Learning, Ashton Sixth Form College (Stamford Park Trust), Better Futures MAT (Bilborough Sixth Form), Hartlepool College, Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion, Hartlepool College, Lincoln College, Solihull College and University Centre, One Sixth Form, The Bedford College Group and York College. Founder individual members are Sara-Jane Crowson, Roy Halpin, Peter Shukie and Amy Woodrow.

Sam Jones, Chair of the steering committee, comments:

"Using practitioner and other forms of research to make organisational decisions is an important part of shaping the post-16 education and training landscape. Using context rich, locally-conducted research can give a unique advantage to these organisations”.

“We hope that through this collaborative work across the UK sector, important insights can be shared within a central point.”

Pictured above: Researchers at Ashton Sixth Form College

Jo Fletcher-Saxon, Assistant Principal and Practitioner Research Lead at Ashton Sixth Form College says,

“The college has been developing its capacity for teacher research over the last few years and we are delighted to be a founder member of the Research College Group. This offers an exciting opportunity for teacher researchers at the college and for their research to contribute to ensuring high standards of teaching and learning opportunities for our students and students in the wider sector.”

Anton McGrath, Principal of Ashton Sixth Form College, added,

“Research in the post 16 sector has been neglected for too long. It is fantastic to see this enthusiasm for developing pedagogy across the sector, lead and driven by practitioners on the ground. We are proud to be a founding partner in this venture which will become an important vehicle for strengthening our already strong teaching and learning culture here at the college and across the rest of the sector.”

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To find out more, visit www.researchcollegegroup.co.uk