The Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) is calling for a national policy to support the transfer of good practice in further education and training.

In a new report Good Practice transfer in post-16 learning: strategies that work the LSDA looks at how colleges and training providers can share ideas, skills and good practice.

It warns raising awareness of good practice through ‘passive’ methods, such as publications, websites and conferences will not change behaviour. To make a real difference, the report says, staff need to engage in demonstrations, coaching and other forms of active sharing.

The report also states that organisations need to develop their own way of identifying excellence, instead of relying on inspectors or external agencies. While staff need opportunities to engage in experiential sharing and to test and customise new ideas.

Andrew Thomson, LSDA chief executive and chief executive-designate of the Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA), said that the spread good practice had to be planned and managed.

"This means using more interactive methods such as coaching, but also giving scope for teachers and trainers to experiment with new ideas and practices. Colleges and other learning providers will need to collaborate more and encourage staff to share practice both internally and externally," he said.

Thomson added that a key task for the QIA, due to be set up in April would be to promote the sharing of good practice.