When the Teaching Excellence Framework was first conceived it had multiple lofty goals – raising the profile and incentivising enhancement of learning and teaching, recognising excellence, and informing student choice.
Former vice chancellor Shirley Pearce, in her independent review of TEF, considered the various purposes claimed for TEF, and concluded that its primary purpose should be to enhance learning and teaching for all students across demographics and courses. The independent report articulated a theory of change that focused primarily on conversations and activity inside institutions:
The clear message from senior leaders responsible for teaching and learning is that the process of engaging with TEF has significant potential in the enhancement of provision.
