Collaborative Approaches to 14-19 Provision - Communities and ...

14-19 PATHFINDERS: THE SECOND YEARawarded additional funding. The most common issues addressed through this additionalfunding were: addressing key skills shortages in specific professions (7 pathfinders); testingelements of personalised learning (5 pathfinders); replicability (4 pathfinders); innovative useof transport (4 pathfinders) and partnerships with higher education institutions (4pathfinders). Developments through this additional funding will be the subject of detailedresearch in our evaluation of the third year of pathfinders.9. There are a number of other initiatives and programmes which have implications forthe 14-19 reform agenda and with which pathfinders are expected to link. These includeExcellence in Cities (EiC), Diversity Pathfinders, Enterprise Pathfinders, the IncreasedFlexibility for 14-16 Year Olds programme (IFP), Partnerships for Progression, Entry toEmployment (E2E), Aim Higher and European Union ESF schemes. At local level,integration with Area Wide Inspection action plan funding has also been important. 14-19Pathfinders are also expected to contribute to broader local economic and social policydevelopments promoted by, for example, Regional Development Agencies, neighbourhoodrenewal projects and local strategic partnerships.10. The importance of institutional collaboration in developing a flexible, coherent 14-19phase has been a central feature of the reform agenda. Therefore pathfinders are required towork closely with a wide range of local partners including Local Learning and SkillsCouncils, local education authorities, employers, colleges, schools, training providers, highereducation institutions and the Connexions service. Pathfinders are also expected to show howthey propose to take account of the views of young people in developing and implementingtheir plans.11. Paralleling much of the development of the pathfinders has been the work of theWorking Group on 14-19 Reform. This was established with a remit to put forward proposalsfor reform in order to achieve:‣ greater coherence in 14-19 learning programmes and strengthened structure andcontent of full-time vocational programmes‣ suitable 14-19 assessment arrangements‣ a unified framework of qualifications.4