The Second Part of Sudakshina Mukherjee’s Costing Analysis

The report finds that the cost estimates provided vary considerably amidst all 15 partnerships and collaborative partnerships studied. Factors influencing them include: “the number of staff involved; the nature of the provision being set up; whether a course is new or they are simply seeking accreditation; the availability of “in-kind” support from employers; the use of staff internal to the Pathfinder, or use of external consultancy support.”

Bearing these factors in mind, the report mentions some case study examples that cover the levels of cost being incurred across the 15 pathfinders, including: “developing learning materials ““ e.g. vocational, enterprise, specialized materials for young people with SEN, ranging from £560 to £113,390; curriculum planning ““ e.g. joint timetabling (£1,500 to £100,000), curriculum design and development (£2,514 to £242,250); development of new programmes: vocational ““ development of course content (£1,000 to £10,000).

Continuing Extended Curricula

To continue: “other extended curriculum – £2,000 (development of a citizenship course) to £4,000 (a music coordinator); skills shortages – £3,500 to £7,500; enterprise learning ““ e.g. engaging employers (£770), consultancy support from employers (£10,000); targeting specific groups of learners ““ set up of AS-level fast-tracking (£3,000), set up of a programme for disaffected young people (two staff at £53,760).”

Further, “some case study examples of the levels of cost being incurred across the 15 Pathfinders include: transport: the mean cost per person for weekly travel to provision is £3.20, and the cost of a “round trip” varies from £0.30 to £6.30 with the minibus the cheapest option, on average, at £1.22 per person per round trip.”

Delivery Costs

In terms of teaching and delivery costs, the report produces the following figures: “vocational ““ teaching costs range from £29 per hour to £65 per hour, with an average of £44 per hour, (with courses, like Engineering costing higher and Performing Arts courses costing lower); other extended curriculum, like a key skills course at £600 per person; skills shortages ““ broadly similar to those of vocational provision (e.g. £44per hour).

To continue: “enterprise learning ““ e.g. the Young Enterprise programme at £4,800; targeting specific groups of learners ““ e.g. taster programmes aimed at gifted and talented young people (£15 to £243 per person) and young people with SEN (£180 to £1,142 per person).” The report found that a in a number of cases, “additional programmes or courses have been offered to young people, in addition to their core curriculum, so there will be no cost saving to their home institution.”

Sudakshina Mukherjee