Providing higher education style experience for 16-19

6 Feb 2007

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) have provided guidance on how the use of HE modules with 16-19 year olds can enhance the development of higher-level skills needed for success in HE and beyond.

Using material prepared for students already in HE is seen as providing an extra dimension of challenge. While most of the students offered the opportunity to take these units would qualify as ‘more able’, other qualities and skills such as independence, capacity for work, time management and persistence are also important.

The guidance is based on an annual survey of 16-19 provision in schools and colleges, with an average of around 1,000 respondents.

The guidance discusses the range of HE-style experience currently provided, its aims and its outcomes and concludes with some recommendations for the development of the 16-19 curriculum, including the use of HE units.

For more information see the QCA Higher education experience