51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø

Practitioner-led development and research

In this section


The 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø believes that enabling FE practitioners to take charge of their own professional development can lead to increased levels of empowerment, motivation and most importantly improvement for learners.

Over the years the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø has offered practitioners the chance to support their own and others’ growth in teaching, learning and assessment through a variety of practitioner-led development and research activities.  

Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The Outstanding Teaching, Learning and Assessment programme ran from 2015 to 2022 and consisted of small groups of FE practitioners undertaking an action research project with the support of a research mentor.

If you are interested in the action research process, the programme produced an organisational guide to undertaking action research.Ìý

Practitioner Research Programme

We have recently relaunched the Practitioner Research Programme in 2024/25.

Practice Development Groups

Practice development groups involved groups of teachers and trainers meeting in action learning sets to develop an area of teaching, learning and assessment. The aim of action learning sets is to follow a set process to discuss problems and successes, hear different perspectives and share useful resources.

Current practitioner research activity at the 51³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø includes:

  • T Level resource improvement projects (TRIPs):
    For providers and other stakeholders to work together to produce resources that will support the planning and delivery of T Levels.

  • Where participants are required to undertake an improvement project to showcase their professional development as a means of obtaining their professional status.
  • Centres for Excellence in Maths (CfEM)
    For maths practitioners to undertake action research projects.
  • Strategic Innovation and Skills
    A  programme for senior curriculum and quality leaders to undertake research to help assist with the strategic planning of the curriculum.