Our Knowledge and Expertise
Education and Young People
HOST has proven expertise in developing effective action research and formative evaluation processes, involving high levels of schools (and other provider) practitioner and wider stakeholder engagement. Applying this knowledge and expertise, HOST has conducted numerous projects, as diverse as early years education, vocational pathways in 14-19 education, schools attainment and added-value of learning, pre-16 progression, reviews of careers education innovations in schools, and education-business partnerships. In vocational education and training, HOST has conducted numerous studies of apprenticeships, disaffected young people, engagement programmes and qualifications for 16-19s; and employer investments in 14-19 education.
A recent project for the (then) LSC involved the evaluation of a number of good practice interventions or systems in working with young people who are classified as not in employment, education or training (NEET), and through data collection and action research to identify the key mechanisms of success that could inform policies, priorities, action plans and the design of the 14-19 system to facilitate improved participation, retention and success of post-16 learners. You can download a copy of the resulting guidance document by visiting our publications page.
Other important studies have included (for the National Apprenticeship Service) the development of an end-to-end certification process, and for LSIS/QCA a review of support and capacity building in the post-16 Foundation Learning Tier.
“I gained more knowledge about how best to gather information for research purposes and the limitations.”