We have been running our Learning to Learn in Schools research project for 8 years. Over this time the project has demonstrated a positive impact on SATs results, motivation, attendance and behaviour, as well as on 'soft skills'. And last year Minister of State for Schools Jim Knight launched the Phase 3 project report, pointing out that with its new focus on personalisation the Government is now recognising the evidence of the success of our approach.

However, in the light of 14-19 developments, particularly in functional skills, and the need for new models which will help young people take charge of their own learning in the lead-up to the proposed raising of the learning leaving age, we have been interested in finding out more about how the learning to learn approach works in FE.

This may be increasingly important with the introduction of Diplomas and the increase in collaboration between schools and colleges. The line between schools and Further Education is blurring, with many young people spending time in both settings to access the best learning opportunities for whatever they are studying. Some Colleges already implement Learning to Learn approaches in some form, although many do not use this terminology. In Colleges, however, these may be restricted to certain areas, and extending the approach across the curriculum presents particular challenges in an FE context.

We are therefore delighted that the Learning & Skills Council has agreed to sponsor a L2L in FE project beginning this autumn, concentrating on work with two FE Colleges. These Colleges serve two of the four Local Authorities where we already work with schools, which will allow us both to investigate the impact of Learning to Learn approaches in the FE delivery and to track progress of young people taught through these approaches in schools we have worked with. We will also be working with a wider group of Colleges to investigate related approaches and their impact, and to share good practice.

The aims of the FE project remain the same as the schools project, to allow for comparisons:

• To develop understanding of progression in learning to learn - knowledge, skills, dispositions and the development of learners' autonomy
• To investigate issues in both scaling up and sustaining Learning to Learn as a development approach in schools/ colleges (drawing in new schools to the existing network)
• To further understand the role of enquiry in teacher's and pupils' learning
• To develop the role of an Higher Education Institution as a co-learner in this process and supporting schools/ colleges in networks
• To look at the potential influence of the family and the community on the development of pupils as lifelong learners
• To look at the relative importance of different learning to learn approaches in raising standards.

There are still many challenges for the Campaign and Learning to Learn. Our aim is to develop a passion for learning that sustains people for life. We have a way to go to reach this goal, but we hope that promoting Learning to Learn approaches will help us do so. Alongside our work in schools and FE, we aim to embed Learning to Learn in workplaces and community settings.
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