Sept 2023- Dec 2024
Research Team:
Matt Dickson (University of Bath), Sue Maguire (University of Bath), Andrea Laczik (Edge Foundation), Olly Newton (Edge Foundation) Dana Dabbous (Edge Foundation), Dave Thomson (FFT Education Datalab)
It is now nearly ten years since the RPA was introduced in England and there has been no independent published research which has investigated its implementation and impact in detail. It is of crucial importance to post-16 education and skills policy to understand what the effect of RPA has been, who has been affected and how they have been affected. Equally important is understanding who hasn’t been re-engaged by the policy and why. From a policymaking viewpoint, understanding the theory behind RPA’s design and any disconnect between theory and implementation is of great importance in informing future interventions in the post-compulsory schooling space.
This study will build upon previous work and expertise focusing on the RPA, notably: quantitative and qualitative studies to help inform the Welsh Government’s decision-making about RPA policy implementation (Dickson, 2022; Maguire, 2021); an evaluation of the RPA trials in England (Maguire and Newton, 2013); a local study of RPA preparations in Wigan, Bury and Salford (Maguire, Laczik et al, 2010); and Dickson’s recent worked on a strand of the Nuffield Foundation project ‘Youth custody: Educational influences and labour market consequences’ examining the impact of RPA on youth custody (Dickson, 2023). The study will also complement Nuffield’s current project examining the long-term impact of the Education Maintenance Allowance, providing insight on the effectiveness of RPA which is an additional policy lever aimed at the same objective of increasing participation, retention and attainment in post-16 education and training.
The research is funded by the Nuffield Foundation. For more information please see:https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/project/raising-the-participation-age-to-18