Construction-focused alternative provision: knowledge, conduct and participation for young people at risk of educational disengagement

Bridgeman, Jemma and Loosemore, Martin 2026. Construction-focused alternative provision: knowledge, conduct and participation for young people at risk of educational disengagement. Journal of Vocational Education and Training 10.1080/13636820.2026.2731347

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (767kB)

Abstract

This study addresses a gap in research about the potential of construction alternative provision (AP) to address skills shortages within the industry and to support young people at risk of disengagement from education. Drawing on Bernstein’s theory of pedagogic discourse, this study reports the results of semi-structured interviews with nine construction AP providers across the UK, offering insights into how AP providers describe the organisation of technical skills, workplace knowledge and behavioural expectations for young people at risk of disengagement from education. The findings also show that providers associated these arrangements with greater engagement, confidence and recognition of construction as a possible occupational field. The article concludes that construction-focused AP should be understood as a diverse and under-researched form of provision that sits between general and vocational education. Rather than offering simple evidence of effectiveness, the study highlights the need for more systematic research into how construction-focused AP organises knowledge, conduct, learner identity and progression possibilities across different settings.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Schools > School of Social and Spatial Sciences
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
ISSN:	1363-6820
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	16 September 2026
Date of Acceptance:	23 August 2026
Last Modified:	16 Sep 2026 15:25
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189684

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item