Teaching, Learning and Assessment and Skills in Further Education

Case 2 summarises the most significant features of outstanding teaching, learning and assessment in the Further/Higher Education and Skills sector and the factors that contribute to these. It also identifies several areas where more improvement is needed. Her Majesty’s Inspectors visited further education colleges, sixth form colleges, independent learning providers, employer providers and providers of community learning and skills between September 2013 and April 2014, as well as using evidence from inspections to inform the report findings.

Inspections and follow-up visits to the outstanding providers have shown that the most significant factors in the provision of outstanding teaching and learning comprise a combination of:
– sharply-focused leadership
– unequivocal and well-informed direction
– the consistent use of successful teaching strategies based on sound educational principles
– realistically high expectations of learners by all staff.