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Current work

The OFT's work on 'Skilled to go' – a toolkit for teachers that develops consumer skills knowledge and confidence alongside literacy and numeracy skills.

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OFT consumer education strategy 2011-12

This strategy reflects on what we've done so far, takes stock of where we are currently and looks ahead to what we want to achieve in 2011-12.

See the consumer education strategy 2011-12 (pdf 85kb).

We welcome your feedback on any aspect on our plans.

You can also access the consumer education strategy 2010-11 (pdf 112kb) and the consumer education strategy 2009-10 (pdf 110 kb).

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Skilled to go

Learning everyday consumer skills – a teachers toolkit

The OFT and LLU+ at London South Bank University have developed a free web-based consumer skills toolkit that uses everyday consumer situations, such as choosing a mobile phone, as contexts for learning literacy and numeracy.

See the Skilled to go toolkit.

Developed for use with adult learners in various settings, skilled to go develops consumer skills, knowledge and confidence alongside literacy and numeracy skills and has been successfully piloted in two colleges. The results of the pilot show that students made gains in consumer knowledge, felt more confident and improved their ability to handle consumer situations.

The evaluation of Skilled to go had two aims, to:

  • measure the effectiveness of Skilled to  go in developing consumer skills, knowledge and confidence and related literacy and numeracy skills
  • evaluate how suitable to modules of Skilled to go were for use in a teaching and learning setting before the toolkit was published.

Skilled to go is designed for learners at Entry 3 - Level 2 (Access 3 and Intermediate 1 and 2 in Scotland), and includes content for ESOL learners. It has tailored versions for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

We have an ongoing programme to keep toolkit content current and intend to develop the toolkit's future potential by creating new modules, and adapting content for new audiences. 

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Why adult learners?

This project is underpinned a firm research base:

  • research commissioned by OFT which identified UK national consumer education activity
  • extensive mapping of consumer education activity via different delivery channels, audiences opportunities and usage
  • research into further education tutors' format and teaching preferences
  • evaluation of the effectiveness of Skilled to go. 

Further information on each piece of research is available and can all be downloaded from the Research page.

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Getting involved

To help develop the module we have established a panel of experts across the UK. The role of the panel is to provide support and guidance to the materials developers. Many of our panel members have come from the Consumer education Alliance.

To get involved or find out about this project please contact us.




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