This evaluation was commissioned by Milton Keynes College Group to inform the development of the Greater Than Network CPD programme, funded by the Department for Education. The evaluation ran from March 2023 until February 2024, and included interviews with college leads, reviewing feedback form data and management information, and session observations. It found that the programme met its objectives and was working effectively prior to closure.

The Greater Than Network was one of a series of programmes intended to provide CPD to teachers and leaders of post-16 GCSE English and maths resits and commissioned by the Department for Education. It was a different kind of CPD, being neither a content-heavy traditional programme, nor a fully informal teacher-led network. It was designed to create a space where English and maths GCSE resit and Functional Skills teachers and managers felt they belonged.

All the indicators we were able to access for the evaluation showed that the programme was working effectively. It achieved its targets around numbers of participating colleges (32 against a target of 30) and engaged individuals (690 against a target of 500). A few changes were made to the original programme, with more CPD being directly delivered, and stipends were only available on production of receipts. The programme closed earlier than intended, in February 2024.

Read the full report.  (PDF, 420.1KB)