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The Framework for Excellence is the Government’s performance assessment tool for further education colleges and post-16 education and training providers who receive funding from the Learning and Skills Council.
The Framework has been designed in consultation with the sector and our partners including the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and Ofsted.
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Contextualisation in the Framework for Excellence
October 2009
Background
1. The 2007/08 report into contextualisation concluded that, from the data available, the 2007/08 Framework for Excellence Performance Indicators took sufficient account of contextual variables.
2. However, as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the fairness, robustness and applicability of the FfE, the Learning and Skills Council commissioned a further study based on the full datasets available as part of the 2008/09 FfE assessment period.
Summary of Findings
3. The 2009 study suggests that there is a case to introduce some further controls for contextual variables.
4. In the majority of cases the impact of contextual variables is negligible. Relatively large effects have been identified, however, in relation to learner views, learner destinations, qualification success rates and financial management and control.
5. A summary of findings from October 2009 report is available here and is also contained within the report at section 11.
Conclusions and actions
6. Following detailed consideration of these findings, four actions have been agreed. The actions are:
a. To develop an information strategy for commissioners and other key stakeholders to help them interpret FfE scores and grades
b. To adopt a cautious approach in respect of changes to performance indicator definitions - making changes only when they are deemed essential and within the wider context of whole-Framework development and improvement.
c. Where a particularly large effect has been identified, further modelling will be undertaken to explore if and how statistical controls could be incorporated into the FfE
d. To include these findings as a consideration in the scoping work on social and educational inclusion indicators. This development will evaluate the extent to which possible new indicators take account of the impact of contextual variables.
Additional Information
7. The purpose of this contextual analysis is to ensure that there are no factors outside of the control of a provider which might result in any provider or type of provider being at an unfair advantage or disadvantage within the Framework for Excellence.
8. This independent investigation into the impact of external contextual factors upon a provider’s Framework scores and grades is part of the evidence base for the Single Equality Impact Assessment (SEIA).
The full report can be found here Testing the Case for Contextualization within the Framework for Excellence (2008/09 Framework Dataset), and was carried out by RCU on behalf of the LSC.
