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The Local Government Association (LGA), under its Educational Research Programme, commissioned the National Foundation of Educational Research (NFER) to undertake a project which would explore and describe the characteristics of alternative curriculum programs for key stage four pupils and to assess the extent to which they were effective in helping young people to view mainstream education and training more positively and to provide routes to post-16 education, training or employment. This report is based on data from questionnaires completed by school staff involved with the curriculum programs in 14 Local Education Authorities (LEAs) and telephone interviews with staff in partnership organisations and with staff, pupils and parents in seven mainstream schools and one special school. The report is presented under the following themes/chapters: The school context (the relationship between alternative programs and the regular curriculum; supporting structures within the school); The local context (the identification of, and effective communication with, organisations willing to work with schools; the role of the LEA); Selecting the pupils (profile of participating pupils; the selection process; gender, socioeconomic background and ethnicity); Collaboration: making and sustaining connections (finding out about providers and pupils; quality of assessment and matching; off-site support); Programme design and resourcing (curriculum balance; different learning contexts; roles in program design; meeting pupils’ social needs; engaging parental support); Encouraging and acknowledging achievement (national awards; local awards; accreditation); Evaluation, monitoring and assessment of outcomes (collection of evidence; defining success; outcomes).