Beacon Status was a progressive educational initiative that the United Kingdom implemented based on the idea that organizational learning could be advanced through a competitive process of identifying successful organizations and recruiting them to disseminate their good practices.
Beacon Status was for providers funded by the Learning and Skills Council, which are mainly Further Education colleges.
The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) and the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) were responsible for inspection and making sure the schools maintain their level of excellence and disseminating their practices.
[6] These schools were expected to maintain their level of perceived excellence whilst, at the same time, attempting to assist others in their development.
The programme was part of the UK government's focus on school improvement through diversity, collaboration and partnership.
[10] Beacon activity is now decided on a local level, however the principle of schools working together, collaborating to share good practice, remains strong.