Institute of Education London

Professor Ken Spours

• Qualifications and position:
  • PhD
  • Professor of Education
    Co-Director of the Centre for Post-14 Research and Innovation
• Faculty:
  • Faculty of Policy and Society
• Department:
  • Lifelong and Comparative Education
• Summary:
  • Head of the Department of Continuing and Professional Education. I have researched the area of 14+ education and training for over 20 years and I am particularly interested in different aspects of 14+ reform - curriculum, qualifications, organisation/governance and policy development.
    • Post-compulsory education and lifelong learning policy and practice
    • The education and training of 14-19 year olds
    • Lifelong learning systems in England, Scotland and Wales
    • Teaching, learning and assessment in post-14 education
    • The organisation and governance of post-14 education
and training
    • 14-19 curriculum and qualifications reform
    • Young people, part-time work and learning
    • The progression of young people in the 14-19 phase and transitions to further study and working life
    • Secondary and vocational education in Tanzania
    • Education for the 'Good Society'
• Teaching:
  • Master Of Teaching In The Post-Compulsory Sector (MTeach)
    Specialising in different aspects of 14+ education and training with inputs to PhD supervision and EdD studies, together with guest lectures to various MA, Post-Compulsory PGCE and Secondary PGCE programmes.
• Research Projects:
  • • Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education and Training in England and Wales - with University of Oxford, Cardiff University and UCAS (2003-2009)
funded by The Nuffield Foundation.
    • New Directions in Learning and Skills in England, Scotland and Wales, ESRC funded and in partnership with University of the West of England, Cardiff University and Glasgow Caledonian University (2008-2010).
    • Kingswood Area Progression Project, funded by the Learning and Skills Council, South Gloucestershire Local Authority, the Kingswood Partnership and Connexions West of England (2008-2012).
    • Effective Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Education 3-14 – continuation to age 16 funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (2008-2013).
    • Global Learning for Global Colleges funded by the Department for International Development (2009-2012).
    • The 13-19 Curriculum in HMC Schools funded by the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (2009-10).
    • Developing a Sixth Form College Baccalaureate funded by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (2009-2011).
• Conferences/presentations:
  • BERA (2008) The English 14-19 Education and Training System: Two Reform Approaches to a Single Phase
    NAHT (2008) National Conference - 'The 14-19 Diplomas'Keynote
    Creating 14-19 strongly collaborative local learning systems: the challenge for professionals
    University Council for the Education of Teachers UCET, November 2009
• Personal Country Knowledge:
  • Tanzania
• Languages Spoken:
  • Swahili (basic)
• Languages Written:
  • English (advanced)
    Swahili (basic)
• Research Students:
  • • Helen Brown - Meeting student needs? Evaluating the effectiveness of the Foundation GNVQ award in a further education college
    • David Wellings - The rhetoric and reality of GNVQs and AVCEs - a motivational perspective
    • Sue Cousin - The mediation of policy through the education system - the case of the post-16 teaching and learning strategy
    • Bryan Cunningham - Effective mentoring in the FE sector
    • Erica Gordon - Caribbean Examinations Council Examinations: post-colonial efforts to redesign Caribbean Secondary Education - the case of Jamaica
    • Elizabeth Halford - The effect of dual FE/HE institutions on the student experience and progression
    • Jo Shah - the experience of Level 1 and Level 2 students in the English FE sector
    • Tony Davies - FE/HE franchise arrangements: an FE teacher perspective