A Literature Review of the RSA funded Opening Minds programme.

Conducted by Dr Sarah Aynsley, Lecturer in Education, University of Sussex; Judy Sebba, Professor of Education, University of Sussex; and Dr Chris Brown, Consultant, the literature review of the Opening Minds programme was conducted between January and April 2012.

The aim of the review was to develop an evidence base relating to the value of a competence-based curriculum in secondary schools, both generally and with specific reference to Opening Minds competences.Differing interpretations of competence were explored, along with a single working definition.

The review was organised around three key questions:

• What is the evidence to support a competence-based approach to education generally - including the impact on both outcomes and pedagogy?
• What is the evidence base for the competencies defined by Opening Minds, and how do these compare to other competencies as utilised by other approaches?
• How could the outcomes and impacts of Opening Minds be measured and evaluated?

Download the Final Report of the Opening Minds Literature Review [PDF 831.86KB]