myplace evaluation gathering pace

Developing a robust and independent evaluation is a key part of the myplace Support Team contract.  As such, we are working with Durham University and YMCA George Williams College to produce an evaluation of all project activity up to December 2010.  The evaluators are a key part of the team and will provide BIG/DfE and the wider support team with important issues emerging from the development of the programme that will help us to direct our support effectively.

The first stage is to complete a baseline review of the programme based on an agreed series of indicators.  These indicators will measure how projects are progressing towards the longer term outcomes underpinning myplace.

The evaluation work currently involves a comprehensive desk-based review of project documents; a wider review of contextual data and specific research with a sample of projects covering both fast track and standard track projects.  Research with projects will involve telephone interviews with key stakeholders and a smaller number of more in-depth case studies.

Each case study will comprise interviews with key partners and project staff, more in-depth contextual research and either interviews or focus groups with young people involved in the project.  We would envisage that projects being identified as evaluation case studies would be visited two to three times over the period of the evaluation.  While cooperation with the evaluation is a condition of grant we understand that some projects may not have the capacity to engage with the evaluation to this extent and involvement is voluntary.  The case study projects are being selected to represent a reasonable cross-section of funded projects and to allow the evaluators to explore some of the more interesting aspects of the myplace programme. 

The evaluators will want to look at things that have worked and things that have not.  They will want to explore both successes and problems and issues being encountered by projects in developing their myplace centre.  It is only by exploring how projects have developed that others can learn important lessons in the future.