This article outlines the development of interest in retention studies in Britain arising from a concern about the appropriate use of public money. It then describes the strategies being used to improve retention within the London Institute, a federation of five art and design focused colleges. Strategies described include study support, tutorial and professional development, including awareness raising, with academic staff. Many of these strategies have been developed in recent years in FE (community) colleges in Britain but our particular concern is to develop an overarching and interlinking strategy across a whole college rather than individual or sectional initiatives. This is what the British New Labour government calls “joined up policy.”
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