Further education is the most distinctive and exciting part of the UK education system. It is a bridge between compulsory education (primary and secondary) and higher education, laying the foundation for graduates to continue to enter university or employment. In general, if you do not choose a high school, the students who enter further education are between the 8th and 9th grades, i.e. between 16 and 18 years old.
The direction of further education in the UK is divided into two categories, one is vocational and the other is academic. The former combines the professional skills needed in society with developing ability in specialised skills and knowledge in various industries, while the latter focuses on developing talent in academic research.
Similar to high schools, many academic routes for further education in the UK are also promoted in accordance with A-Levels. As we all know, A-Levels are a key springboard for higher education. In general, there are more than 100 subjects and students need to study three to four subjects within two years. An important admission criterion for a UK university is the applicant's performance in their A-Level examinations. It is no exaggeration to say that having superior A-Level grades is equivalent to a foot entering the gate of a prestigious school.
In the UK, A-Level courses are offered not only in secondary schools, but also in many further education colleges. Sixth Forms are also dedicated to this and some also teach IB (International Baccalaureate) courses, both of which are recognized and respected by universities in the UK and around the world. This academic route of the School of Further Education is in keeping with the average secondary school.
One of the most important advantages of the Institute of Continuing Education is the wider selection of courses. In the UK, if most local secondary schools offer Sixth Forms, or if there are also Sixth Form colleges in the local area, the Institute of Continuing Education may focus on subjects that are closely related to business or industry needs, such as art, agriculture or technology. Many of these courses can be directly married with a University education. If some of the further education colleges are the primary or only educational choices for students after the age of 16, then these colleges can provide all of the A-Levels subjects that Sixth Form students will also learn. For example, Sunderland College has the widest selection of subjects in the local area, including those that require specialised facilities but are not available in secondary schools.
Due to the combination of vocational education, the Institute of Continuing Education in the UK differs from the learning environment of secondary schools in terms of school size, subject, composition of students, and even class schedule. In these colleges, students have more space for self-sufficiency. Under the supervision of teachers, students can experience the atmosphere of future university learning and cultivate the independence and autonomy required for higher education in the future. This is one of the important reasons why many students in the UK choose to continue their education after completing the GCSE course, especially one that offers Sixth Form.
In terms of faculty, the lecturers of the A-Level course in further education are also experts who focus on these courses, so they are also very familiar with the preparation needed to enter university and can provide special support and advice. Many colleges have won the appreciation of parents and awards from government authorities for their comprehensive support services. These services are all-encompassing and professional, from pastoral care, learning support to expert counseling, all of which help to prepare students for university life.
In the Sixth Form, students are equally bright. For example, Bexhill College is a school that specialises in Sixth Form quality education, offering more than 50 subjects. More importantly, the quality of many colleges is no less inferior to secondary schools. Bakershill College achieved a 100% pass rate in more than 30 subjects last year. Boston College's A-Level students passed 100% last year, making it the best performing local for the third consecutive year. Sunderland College has a 99% pass rate over the past eight years, with a significant number of students successfully enrolled in top universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and Liverpool School of Performing Arts.
The reason is that the academic and vocational routes of further education in the UK are a good complement to each other. Thanks to the help of the career advice, many Institutes of Further Education have more people with industry backgrounds to participate in teaching. This is undoubtedly an innate advantage for both the teaching and learning aspects of the academic A-Level route. Exeter College is taught at cutting-edge facilities by industry-leading professionals, with a student pass rate of 99.5%. At the same time, the two factors contribute to the success of students in their studies and their success in obtaining employment or continuing to study at top universities.
On the other hand, most of the Further Education Institutes offer A-Level courses as well as a number of other qualifications in different subjects and levels (A-Levels are Level 3). Levels 4-8 above A-Levels have actually entered the higher education category, including pre-university, HND/HNC courses, honours degrees, and postgraduate or vocational qualifications. This undoubtedly provides a wider choice for students who choose further education to complete A-Levels.
In 2017, 14 continuing education colleges in the first “Teaching Excellence Framework” (TEF) selection, in the field of higher education, surpassed the top universities in the Russell Group, and won the “Gold Award”. 46 were awarded the Silver Award and 31 Bronze Awards. The Gold Award means that the award-winning institutions have the highest level of education in the UK, “to provide students with outstanding teaching, learning and results always”. The selection criteria include three indicators related to student quality, assessment, and academic support evaluation in the National Student Survey, plus graduate employment rate, student enrolment rate, and student satisfaction rate.