This paper presents findings from a study of the experiences of in-service trainee teachers in colleges of further education in England on programmes run under the auspices of and through franchise arrangements with universities. It argues that there is a significant gap between the rhetoric of gaining teaching qualifications through a work-based…

This paper reports three studies about preparing Further Education (FE) students for the transition to Higher Education (HE) by improving their understanding of HE assessment criteria. In study 1, students and tutors in both FE and HE were interviewed for a qualitative analysis of their understandings and expectations about assessment criteria. In…

The Sutton Trust Summer School offers to S5/Year 12 pupils the opportunity to sample student life for a week at one of five selecting universities in the UK. Most of the participants on the Sutton Trust Summer School will be the first generation in their family to attend university and have come from schools which traditionally send low numbers to…

This study explores the demand amongst potential higher education (HE) learners from the non-traditional group for flexible degree level provision, key factors influencing their decision to pursue a degree and existing degree provision. The research entailed a combination of a questionnaire survey, focus group discussions and interviews with the…

Students undertaking employment during term time is a growing phenomenon, and whilst there is an awareness that a large proportion of our undergraduates have part-time jobs, the type and extent of this work and the learning experiences gained is less clear. The purpose of this article is to outline research undertaken to determine the potential…

In the current further education (FE) and higher education (HE) environment, students are under increasing pressure to perform well and achieve good results. As educators we must strive to enable students to make the most of their higher education by providing an education of the highest quality and enhance the learning experience. This study was…

Maths anxiety interferes with maths cognition and thereby increases the risk of maths errors. To initiate strategies for preventing anxiety-related errors progressing into nursing practice, this study explored the hypothesis that student nurses experience high maths anxiety in association with poor maths performance, and that high maths anxiety is…

The social class gap in higher education (HE) participation rates has its origins in the compulsory schooling system and, despite over a century of universal education, differential rates of attainment by social class remain the norm. Against this background, policy initiatives to extend HE participation to under-represented groups are attempting…

Educational establishments are now legally bound to create inclusive learning environments. However, successful implementation will depend on changes in the culture and ethos of these institutions, as well as shifts in the attitudes and practices of staff. This article reports on the findings of an evaluation of staff development sessions led by…

Single-honours psychology students at an English university were asked about their expectations and experiences at the start and the end of their first year. Students without a pre-university (A-level) qualification in psychology (n = 37: 22%) felt less well-prepared for studying psychology than students with an A-level qualification (n = 132:…

This article reports on a research project which investigated higher education teaching in a partnership of 17 further education colleges across south-west England. One hundred and six respondents answered a web-based questionnaire which gave insights into their views on the role of the lecture in higher education in further education (HE in FE)…

Outputs from a computerised touch pad turnstile security system that recorded business students' entries into and exits from a university's buildings revealed that a significant number of the institution's first-year intake withdrew from their (business) degree programmes within a few weeks of enrolment. Accordingly, a sample of these "early…

This article captures the different perspectives of those involved in a collaborative project which implemented an e-learning initiative with higher education and further education institutions in partnership. The initial part of the article provides context and considers some of the debates in the literature on collaboration. It reflects on what…

This study reports on a 4 year project conducted to detect any alteration to students' experience and self-confidence in key skills resulting from the introduction of Curriculum 2000. The project involved 460 first year medical students who left school before the introduction of Curriculum 2000 and 478 who had experienced the new curriculum.…

The use of Internet tools in economic pedagogy is growing. This paper attempts to investigate the impact of Internet tools, as a supplement to traditional teaching methods, on teaching and learning and attempts to answer the question why there are gaps between potential and reality of using Internet tools in economics education, based on our…