How schools and colleges used the RRRS and catch-up grants for post-16 learners
Thematic Report
This report focuses on the support for post-16 learners since September 2020 through the ‘Recruit, Recover, Raise Standards: Accelerating Learning Programme’ grant (the RRRS grant) in schools and the catch-up grant in further education (FE) colleges.
Recommendations
In the case of future similar grants, leaders in schools and colleges should:
- R1 Ensure they have a clear vision for the outcomes they desire from additional spending
- R2 Work with a wide range of partners to develop strategies to support learners’ progress and wellbeing
- R3 Regularly track and evaluate the impact of additional spending in order to adjust current plans and inform future planning
- R4 Consider building on successful changes to practice made during the pandemic
- R5 Ensure that learners’ progress in Welsh is priority, irrespective of the linguistic backgrounds of learners
Regional consortia and local authorities should:
- R6 Track and evaluate the success of different models of providing additional support to learners across their areas, referring to the indicators suggested in this report
The Welsh Government should:
- R7 Ensure that conditions for any future catch up grant spending are flexible and are equivalent for schools and colleges