LSIS Excellence Gateway

Beacon status identifies and recognises the very best providers of the further education and skills sector. Beacons are a source of expertise and have agreed to, and willingly, share their expertise and good practice with other organisations.  Activities involve advice and support for other providers, trialling newand innovative approaches, peer review and development, and representation on LSIS expert/reference groups.

Beacons, as exemplars and trusted partners, promote and pursue excellence and innovation. They provide a major impetus for the cultural changes needed for the whole sector in its move to becoming responsible for its own quality improvement and towards greater self regulation.

How do we become a Beacon?

Beacon status is awarded by invitation. LSIS uses both published inspection report information and LSC advice to identify potential candidates.

The potential candidates are considered by a panel of independent experts from across the further education and skills sector which makes a recommendation about whether to consider the candidate for the award of Beacon status. These candidates are then asked to complete a 'Declaration of Interest' form to outline areas of their considered expertise and to offer a supporting statement to describe:

how they share and transfer expertise good practice within their own  
    organisation;

the experience they have of cross-sector expertise and good practice sharing;

their opinion of what makes for effective cross-sector expertise good practice
    sharing;

how they determine the aims, objectives and performance outcomes for
    expertise good practice sharing activities;

how they know they have made a difference.

What are the criteria for Beacon status?

The key criteria currently are:

inspection evidence:

• grade 1 for Leadership and Management
• nothing less than a grade 2 for all other areas inspected;

LSC support:

• expression of support by the appropriate LSC Regional Director;

assessment of suitability by independent experts on an advisory panel;

identifiable expertise and strengths (from their Declarations of Interest) that
    would benefit the further education and skills sector.

The criteria will be kept under review as the arrangements for Framework for Excellence are developed.

What are the key benefits of Beacon status?

Public recognition of excellence

Increased reputation, status, standing and influence in the sector

Funding to transfer expertise and good practice and to undertake innovative
    activities (Beacons get no additional funding purley for having achieved Beacon
    status).

What has been the impact of Beacon status?

Beacons have developed, tested and implemented a variety of new and
    innovative ways of teaching and learning and managing their business

Beacons have helped other providers to improve their performance,
    including improved inspection grades, increased employer engagement, better
    learner support and achievement

Beacons themselves have also improved their own performance and have
    benefited from working with others in the sector