Between February and April 2003 Pye Tait conducted an evaluation of training programmes for Senior Managers in the further education sector. The main aims of the evaluation were to assess the impact that the training had on the managerial and leadership skills of senior managers in provider institutions and, ultimately, the standards of provision offered to learners.
The methodology consisted of four main components: secondary analysis of data; face-to-face interviews with the contract managers of training organisations; telephone interviews with 40 senior managers who had completed the training; and 10 in-depth face-to-face interviews with course participants for use as case study material.
Analysis focused on the extent to which provision met the client’s aims, the value of the training as perceived by participants and the impact on the quality of provision and the experience of learners.