8 February 2007

It’s almost seven years to the day, 15 February 2000 to be precise, that David Blunkett launched proposals for Foundation Degrees. It was a propitious moment. Standing on the same spot that Tony Crosland some 35 years previously had set out the vision for polytechnics, David Blunkett evoked a similar passion for employer led, high level skills as he argued the case for “rationalising and enhancing the quality of provision below first degree level.” He also went on argue for an e-university and against top up fees but perhaps less should be said about those.

Blunkett’s speech, which was titled ‘Modernising HE – Facing the Global Challenge,’ was both powerful and prescient. It was fuelled partly by Tony Blair’s pledge the previous year of an HE participation target of 50% of young people by the end of the decade and partly by the growing noises coming out of the Skills Task Force at the time about the importance of higher level skills.

Many people bought the pitch but within weeks questions were being asked. “Industry wary of sub degrees” ran the headline in the Times Higher on 17 April 2000 while The Independent asked a few weeks earlier “Is there anyone out there who wants this degree?” Developing a new national qualification, particularly one located in such a delicate spot, namely just below the traditional degree fold and on the FE/HE borderline, let alone one dependent on employer express commitment and media understanding, was never going to be easy. In addition, the now traditional bubble of expectation built up early on. Blunkett, for instance, hoped that it would all lead to an extra 700,000 learners in F/HE by 2002.

In fact, according to this HEFCE Report on the first six years of Foundation Degrees 4320 students registered for the first wave in September 2001 while the current number “estimated to have registered or to be registered on such programmes in 2006/7 is just over 60,000.” ‘Estimated’ because not all the statistics are complete yet. The Report uses annual collections by or on behalf of the LSC and HEFCE along with data from the HE Statistics Agency and the National Student Survey. It may be “insufficient to make a complete picture,” data on work experience for instance is limited, but it’s enough to paint a fair picture.

Of the 60,000 students, just over half, 34,000 are full time, the rest, and latterly a growing proportion, are part time. 54% of entrants are taught wholly in FE, the remainder wholly or partly in HE. The greatest period of growth seems to have occurred between 2002/3 and 2003/4 and been fuelled by three factors; conversions from HNDs, response to public sector skill initiatives and the emerging needs of new and developing industries. Interestingly though, the three most popular subject areas for Foundation Degrees are broadly traditional, namely education, creative arts and business. They also in the last two cases parallel the three most popular HND subject areas; Engineering and technology being the odd one out by being by far the most popular HND. There is still some uncertainty about how far the rate of growth will go, whether perhaps it’s peaked and just how vibrant the sub degree market really is. As the Report notes, “some of the sources of past growth are now limited, for example only 12,570 HND entrants were returned for 2006/7” suggesting that the growth from that source is now limited. That said, FDF reported in December 2006 that some 741 Foundation Degree programmes were under development while HEFCE itself has set aside additional funding for 2007/8 for over 13,000 full time equivalents for Foundation Degree programmes. Future growth is therefore being planned and of course behind it now is the Leitch trigger.

The Leitch Review argued powerfully for an extension of the Train to Gain funding mechanism to be extended into HE and for ‘more than 40% of adults to be qualified to Level 4 and above’ by 2020. In particular it recommended that HE growth should not come from more of the same, “rather additional provision should be based on new types of programmes offering specific job related skills such as Foundation Degrees.” As the early architects of Foundation Degrees recognised, many powerful economies are characterised by strong levels of success at Level 4.

Much may depend, however, as this Report recognises on “institutions’ ability to further stimulate demand through innovative provision in new areas.” Also it has to be said on employer involvement. This issue has cropped up in a number of Reports, including of course the Wagner Task Force Report of three years ago. This HEFCE Report tries to establish how much support employers do give Foundation Degree students but is unable to draw conclusions because of a lack of robust evidence. It believes that 77% of such students had some support but less than a third had their fees paid. It concludes therefore that “the recent Leitch proposal for employers to make a financial contribution significantly greater than tuition fees would entail a dramatic change in the attitudes of employers” para 197.

In terms of student ‘types’ and using mainly 2004/5 data, the Report finds 57% of entrants female, 64% over 21 and the proportion from LPNs (Low Participation Neighbourhoods) higher than for HE and HNDs in general. The majority of the latter enter through FE. The NW, SW and London are the main recruiting grounds and colleges the main players; 255 colleges offer Foundation Degrees against 83, mostly post 92 universities. Most students seemed happy enough with their course, a 76% satisfaction rating equates favourably with other HE and HND provision though course organisation fared badly. It seems that late timetable or lecture changes don’t go down well with these students who often have to balance a lot in life.

Progression stats are more difficult to pin down and are largely based on standard two year HE programmes. Completing a part time mode in two years seems a tall order but for those starting on two year full time courses, “59% gained an HE qualification within three years and a further 21% are still studying.”

The Report identifies what it calls some “tentative conclusions;” five stand out. Firstly that although no clear trend emerges about numbers, “we would expect total FD numbers to rise to 80,000.” Secondly that the speed of growth may have caused some teething problems around course management. Thirdly that there’s clearly a delicate balance to be had between course flexibility and stability. Fourthly that apart from some concerns about two year part time provision, progression on is working smoothly and finally that they are providing an attractive alternative route into HE for those from non traditional backgrounds. Bottle half full?

© Edexcel Policy Watch 2007. Steve Besley is General Manger of Education Policy at Edexcel. Policy watch is a service intended to help busy people understand developments in the world of education. Visit Edexcel at www.edexcel.org.uk