Further education Totally Explained

Everything about Further Education totally explained

Further education (often abbreviated "FE") is post-secondary education (in addition to that received at secondary school), that's distinct from the education offered in universities. It may be at the same level, at a higher level, or at a lower level than secondary education, anything from basic training to Higher National Diploma or Foundation Degree. The term is mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom. A distinction is usually made between FE and higher education ("HE") which is education at a higher level than secondary school, usually provided in distinct institutions such as universities. FE in the United Kingdom therefore includes education for people over 16, usually excluding universities. It is primarily taught in FE colleges (which are similar in concept to United States community colleges, and sometimes use "community college" in their title), work-based learning, and adult and community learning institutions. This includes post-16 courses similar to those taught at schools and sub-degree courses similar to those taught at higher education (HE) colleges (which also teach degree-level courses) and at some universities.
The Quality Improvement Agency provides strategic and policy support, while the Learning and Skills Network offers training and consultancy.

England

Colleges in England that are regarded as part of the FE sector include:

General FE and tertiary colleges
Sixth-form colleges
Specialist colleges (mainly colleges of agriculture and horticulture and colleges of drama and dance)
Adult education institutes

Since 2001, FE in England has been managed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the largest government agency funding education provision. The LSC has a budget of some £13 billion and is organised on a regional basis through around 47 local councils. The LSC has a particular mission to improve and expand further education provision, driven by the UK government's desire to increase standards in post-16 student retention and achievement, particularly in skills-based vocational provision in FE colleges. Recent government-driven LSC and Department for Education and Skills (DfES) policies, such as Success for All and the Skills Strategy, articulate this vision.
   Good quality teaching is indicated by the award of Centre of Vocational Excellence status in an initiative to improve the quality of provision for vocational education.
   In England FE there's no formal requirement for teachers (known as "lecturers") in FE colleges to have followed any specific course of teacher training. Nor do they've to register with a General Teaching Council. However, most colleges prefer to appoint staff who have teaching qualifications and when appointing staff without teaching qualifications the college usually specifies that they attend lecturer training courses to gain qualifications such as the Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (FE) comparable to the post-graduate certificate in education (PGCE) required by schoolteachers. The trade unions for FE staff are the University and College Union and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers.
   In England, further education is often seen as forming one part of a wider learning and skills sector, alongside workplace education, prison education, and other types of non-school, non-university education and training. Since June 2007, the sector is overseen by the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, although some parts (such as education and training for 14-19 year olds) fall within the new Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Scotland

Scotland's further education colleges provide education for those young people who follow a vocational route after the end of compulsory education at age 16. They offer a wide range of vocational qualifications to young people and older adults, including SNVQs. Frequently, the first two years of higher education can be taken in an FE college, followed by attendance at university.

Wales

Further education in Wales is provided through:

Sixth form colleges

FE colleges

High school sixth form within secondary schools Further education in Wales comes under the remit of the Welsh Assembly Government and was formerly funded by ELWa before its merger with the Assembly.

Qualifications

Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification

Key Skills Qualification

High school sixth form

Year 12 or lower sixth, age 16 to 17 (AS-level examinations)

Year 13 or upper sixth, age 17 to 18 (A2-level examinations. Both AS-levels and A2-levels count towards 'A'-levels.) ==

Further Information

Get more info on 'Further Education'.

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