Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all those that have participated in the formative evaluation of the Applied Educational Research Scheme ( AERS). We are very grateful to all AERS staff for their cooperation in providing information upon immediate request and responding to our many queries. Special thanks must go to Adela Baird and the five AERS senior research staff: Erica McAteer, Alastair Wilson, Joan Stead, Jane Brown and Ralph Catts. We are also extremely grateful to the Centre for Sociology of Education at the University of Edinburgh and the Applied Education Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde for providing us with their facilities and hospitality during the course of our fieldwork. The formative evaluation was also supported by Prof Amanda Coffey, of the Cardiff School of Social Sciences, and with guidance from our external Advisory Group.
Timing
The fieldwork for this review was undertaken early in 2007. Therefore findings generally refer to the situation at the time of the fieldwork. In some areas there may have been subsequent changes. These are more fully reflected in the attached action plan.