Learning and Skills Network (LSN)

Since autumn 2008 we’ve worked with partners to deliver the Diploma support programme. This programme helps schools to plan, develop and implement school diplomas – the most significant educational reforms introduced for many years. Our contribution to the partnership includes providing high-quality bespoke training for the first 10 lines of the diplomas.

We also deliver a vocational learning strand to continue the work of the Vocational Learning Support Programme. This is a generic programme mapped against the six Training and Development Agency themes. The programme is available to all consortia successful in Gateway 2 submissions, or working towards delivery. Schools and colleges offering applied GCSEs and A-levels can also benefit from support.

We deliver the Triple Science Support Programme to help make Triple Science GCSEs more widely available to pupils in English-maintained schools. This generic programme is available to all schools, and we offer more intensive support for targeted schools. This programme helps schools to develop the Triple Science provision and it also allocates bespoke resources to schools that can benefit the most. We partner with the Science Learning Centres, Institute of Physics, Institute of Biology and Royal Society of Chemistry to provide a targeted programme of support.

Starting Out
At LSN we created the unique Starting Out pilot programme to offer mentoring and support for Maths and Science teachers in training or in the first two years of teaching. This programme is specifically designed to give early-career teachers more confidence in applying knowledge and skills.

Quality Champions Accreditation Programme
The Learning and Skills Improvement Service created the innovative Quality Champions Accreditation Programme. At LSN we deliver the programme to identify, develop and accredit the leaders in quality improvement across the post-16 education and training sector. The Institute for Leadership and Management provides accreditation through this programme at Level 5 and Level 7 of the Qualifications Credit Framework.

Make a Difference Programme
Our Make a Difference Programme supports further education providers in recruiting experienced, motivated, graduate-calibre people for management roles within further education and training and skills providers.

Citizenship education gives young people the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to play an effective role in society at the local, national and international level. This education helps young people become informed, thoughtful and responsible citizens aware of their rights and duties. It also encourages young people to play an active part in the life of their learning organisations, neighbourhoods, communities and the wider world. We run the Post-16 Citizenship Support Programme on behalf of the Quality Improvement Agency. The programme offers free advice, materials and training to organisations wishing to deliver post-16 citizenship education to learners.

Functional skills will equip young people with the skills, competencies and qualifications that employers want. They open doors to learning, to life and to work. These skills are valued by employers and further education and are a platform on which to build other employability skills.

LSN has extensive experience in functional skills as we have been involved in their developments since their launch in 2006.

The Learning and Skills Council and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority are leading the Foundation Learning Tier (FLT) programme of work. This will provide an improved learning experience for 14-19 year olds and adult learners at Entry level and level 1. At LSN we deliver the Foundation Learning Tier Support Programme to prepare providers for helping learners achieve success and progress through work and life.

Skills for Life teaches literacy, numeracy and English for speakers of other languages. This positively impacts learners’ experiences and success rates. At LSN we’re involved in a range of projects as part of the Skills for Life Improvement Programme. This includes supporting the improvement of Skills for Life provision and practice.

We’re currently delivering a series of EurOpinions events on behalf of the European Parliament UK Office. These events are engaging young people aged 16-25 in European politics.

The programme runs over 10 months, beginning with an overnight experiential consisting of group sessions and activities over 2 days where delegates get to know others on the programme. This is followed by a variety of leadership and business masterclasses from inspirational speakers and business experts as well as a course of one-to-one coaching from our experts in the field. During the programme you will spend some time shadowing delegates in their own business and exchanging best practices and working through real-life challenges. An online networking forum allows delegates to share experiences and business challenges with others on the programme.

Our MoLeNET support and evaluation programme provides technical and pedagogic advice and support, materials development and continuing professional development. It also offers mentoring, peer-to-peer support, networking, resource sharing, research and evaluation services.

As LSN we’re one of two successor organisations to the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA). The other is the Quality Improvement Agency. LSDA Northern Ireland has retained its name and is the part of LSN that delivers services in Northern Ireland.

Our Learning and Skills Research Centre is a virtual centre we operate to conduct strategic research for policymakers and for the learning and skills sector as a whole.

We partner with Skill and the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education to offer this service. Together we support the learning and skills sector in the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the new Disability Equality Duty (DED).

e-Learning and technology sit at the heart of education and workforce development. That’s why we deliver this programme which supports learning and skills providers in raising the quality of professional practice in e-learning teaching and training.

We support subject learning coaches in gaining accreditation through MoLeNET, the Teaching and Learning Change Programme, and Improving Teaching and Learning through Coaching and Mentoring. We also help learning providers improve the quality of teaching, learning and professional development by successfully delivering programmes such as the Subject Learning Coaches Programme.