Frequently Asked Questions

Further education encompasses any type of educational program that is beyond secondary school level. This includes programs such as A-levels, vocational training, and sixth form. However, further education (FE) is often used to refer to educational provision that is outside of the mainstream school system. It includes both academic and vocational courses at Level 3 and below.

Training is practical learning that equips people with the skills they need to do a particular job. It can be provided by employers, training providers or further education colleges.

Further education and training provision in the UK is diverse and comprehensive, offering opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. In the UK, further education includes both vocational and academic programmes of study. Vocational programmes are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to enter a particular trade or profession, while academic programmes prepare students for university-level study.

Further education can be studied full-time or part-time, and can be taken at colleges, universities, or other institutions offering further education courses. Many further education programmes allow students to gain work experience through internships or other types of work placement.

There are many reasons why someone might choose to study at a further education college. For some, it may be a way to gain the qualifications they need to enter into employment or progress in their chosen career. For others, it may be an opportunity to develop new skills or interests. Whatever the reason, further education colleges provide an important service to millions of people each year.

Further education colleges provide academic and vocational courses for people over the age of 16. According to data from the AoC, there are 277 colleges in the UK (Key Further Education Statistics, October 2021):
232 colleges in England
26 in Scotland
13 in Wales
6 in Northern Ireland.

Courses at further education colleges can lead to qualifications such as GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs and BTECs. They can also provide valuable training and development opportunities for those who wish to enter or progress in employment.

The purpose of further education is to provide individuals with the opportunity to continue their learning and gain new skills or knowledge. It can help people to progress in their careers, change career paths, or simply learn more about a subject they are interested in.

Yes, an apprenticeship is considered a form of further education in the UK. Further education can refer to any type of educational training that is beyond secondary school level, including both academic and vocational programs.

In England, further education is mainly funded by the government through the Department for Education. However, there is also some funding from private sources, such as businesses and charities. In Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, further education is funded by the devolved governments.

Yes, sixth form is a type of further education program that is typically taken by students aged 16-18.

Yes, A-levels are a type of further education program.

In the UK, higher education generally refers to undergraduate and postgraduate study at universities, while further education encompasses all other post-secondary educational programmes. So, university is considered to be higher education, whereas further education is a step below this. However, there are some exceptions – for example, some universities offer vocational training courses which would technically fall under the category of further education.

There is no one specific route into becoming a further education lecturer. However, most lecturers will have completed some form of higher education, and many will also have experience working in their chosen field before moving into teaching.

Further education lecturers typically need to be able to work well with young people and adults of all abilities, and must possess excellent communication and organisational skills.

Many further education colleges require their lecturers to have a teaching qualification, such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training.

If you are interested in becoming a further education lecturer, it is advisable to get in touch with your local further education colleges to find out about any specific requirements or vacancies. Alternatively, you can search for jobs on websites such as the Guardian Jobs website or TES website.

FE courses that you can study at college include A-levels, BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council) and newly introduced T-levels.

Some colleges also run undergraduate programmes. The recent 2021/22 AoC’s College Key Facts report found that colleges deliver 84% of Higher National Certificates (HNCs) (at Level 4 – equivalent to a Certificate of Higher Education), 66% of Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) and 67% of foundation degrees (both at Level 5 – equivalent to two-thirds of a Bachelors degree). FE colleges also train approximately 1,100 apprentices each year.

Specialist independent training providers such as Teacher Assist, provide Level 3 qualifications such as the Level 3 Award in Education and Training, Level 4 qualifications such as the Level 4 Certificate in Education and Training, and Level 5 qualifications such as the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training.