National Learner Panel

National Learner Panel: giving learners a voice in national policymaking

The National Learner Panel advises the government and other FE sector organisations on how to improve further education policy in England from a learner's point of view. It does this by giving direct feedback and advice on current and emergent policies to enable better decision-making by the government on the FE system. The NLP is sponsored by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service and works with a wide range of government departments, organisations and agencies. It is made up of 20 volunteers who are currently studying in the learning and skills sector - whether in work-based learning, studying at a college, taking an evening class or in other forms of adult learning.

“ I strongly believe that the NLP is one of the best ways to get the learner voice heard from a wide group of learners in further education in England.”
Amadou Bah, NLP chair 2009–10

 

To hear Oliver Wood, chair of the NLP 2008–2009, describe his experience as a panel member, watch the video "Overview of the NLP".

Why should learners be interested in the work of the NLP?

Learners in any setting in the learning and skills sector will be interested in the panel's work if they are:

• keen to understand how it will impact upon the learning experiences of other learners like them in the future;
• passionate about learner involvement and learner voice, empowerment and citizenship in action;
• interested in learning more about policy and politics - and how education policy in particular is developed; and
• keen to get involved as a panel member in the future.

"The NLP gives learners a real voice for change, and is one of the best ways for learners to meet decision-makers and help make a difference in FE policy."
Richard Kearnes, NLP 2009–10.

Why should teachers*, leaders and managers be interested in the work of the NLP?

As a teacher or manager, you can play a key role in raising awareness of the Panel with the learners that you work with. This might be because:

• you take the lead for learner involvement activities within your provider, and recognise the role the learner voice can play in improving provision and policy;
• you teach post-16 Citizenship, and think it provides an interesting example of this in action; and/or
• you'd like to encourage learners who you work with to apply for panel membership in future - from the Student Union president to learners whose voices are less frequently heard.

[*We use 'teacher' as a generic term to include teachers, tutors, trainers, lecturers, instructors in the learning and skills sector.]

"The NLP helps learners to have a say in future changes before they are implemented. I have realised that policymakers value learners' opinions and those opinions will have a direct impact on the future."
Christina Roberts, NLP 2008-09.