Implementing key skills in further education: perceptions and issues

In spite of the dearth of evidence on transferability, key skills continue to dominate and define the post-school curriculum. A picture of further education lecturers' perceptions of key skills and transfer was constructed through interviews with 41 practitioners teaching on General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) Advanced Business Studies programmes in seven institutions and located against the background of emerging trends in the post-compulsory education and training sector. The principal findings are analysed and observations and recommendations made in the light of current policy trends in post-school provision.