FURTHER EDUCATION SECTOR REFORM CASE STUDIES

Tender description

The Department for Education is seeking a contractor to design and deliver a series of detailed case studies across the Further Education (FE) sector. Please be aware that there is no EOI stage for this project, instead you are invited to submit a full tender for this work to the specification outlined. The primary aim of the research is to provide a process evaluation of the FE Area Review programme. This programme sought to improve efficiency in the sector by establishing the best institutional structures for offering high quality provision, based on the current and future needs of learners and employers within local areas. Evidence gathered through the detailed case studies will be used to assess the success of the Area Reviews 'on the ground', from the viewpoint of those involved in shaping and responding to the Review recommendations. Evidence from these case studies will also provide valuable insights to feed into the Department's ongoing assessment of the financial health and stability of the FE sector ahead of the next Spending Review, which is expected to take place in 2019. This includes a specific focus upon understanding how Area Reviews have affected the quantity and quality of provision in local areas, and how effective mergers and other forms of restructuring have been in improving the resilience of providers. We anticipate that approximately five area based case studies will be required, involving the collection of data from a range of stakeholders in each location to ensure that a good mix of experiences are explored. The deadline for Bids is 5pm, Friday 6th July 2018