An independent audit of the first year's development of the Bloodhound Education Programme (BEP) was undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), during the period from July to November 2009.

NFER concluded:

"In the short time since the launch of the Bloodhound Education Programme, the BEP team has made good progress in developing and implementing the various aspects of the programme. The considerable numbers of educational institutions and other organisations (such as scout groups) registered for the programme, and the development of the Bloodhound Ambassador network, represent solid achievements. The online presence of the BEP is strong, and it benefits from a prominent position on the broader Bloodhound Engineering Project website.

Equally, the partnerships between the BEP and partner organisations responsible for delivering Bloodhound-themed activities, resources and materials have developed effectively. The Bloodhound team has also worked hard to develop wider partnerships with other key organisations providing STEM enhancement and enrichment opportunities and teacher professional development, such as STEMNET and the Science Learning Centre Network.

Throughout the research, many interviewees have been very enthusiastic about the BEP. Its innovative approach to providing activities, resources and materials through partner organisations is seen as a key strength of the programme. Through using this approach, it has been possible to take advantage of both the excitement generated by the Bloodhound concept, and the expertise of existing networks and programmes."

The full report can be downloaded by clicking on the report on the right.