It’s no secret the UK Education sector is struggling within the current climate. With funding issues raised at every level, the government is looking for ways to reduce costs, ensuring a more efficient, sustainable system.
Under the current publicly funded banner we have primary and secondary schools, along with FE Colleges. While Labour is making plenty of moves to fund the two former levels, the future of FE remains uncertain. In fact, as I write this the Department for Education continues to review post-16 qualifications at FE Colleges, placing the fate of hundreds of courses in limbo for the 2025/2026 year.
It’s an odd disparity in approach between these levels, especially given the importance of FE Colleges in UK education. With over 1.6 million students attending College in the UK each year, any change will prove impactful. While we await their decision, let’s explore the specific role that FE Colleges play and why their continued success is critical for the entire system.
A Critical Stepping Stone
FE Colleges have an important role when it comes to age. Though UK students can technically leave secondary schools from the age of 16, current rules prevent them from permanently joining the workforce till the age of 18. This is where Colleges come in.
Colleges are a crucial stepping stone that prepares people for the next phase of their life. At just the age of 16, many aren’t quite ready to join the work force full time. Whether to build maturity, gain specialised skills, or discover interests, College provides a safe environment to explore one’s identity.
Colleges have a lot to offer students who decide to leave their secondary schools. Between A and T level courses to apprenticeships, students have a surplus of options to remain engaged while building critical skills. Recent data suggests the range of options are working as intended. For example, back in September the Department for the Economy in Ireland revealed that 87% of FE college leavers reported a positive within six months of achieving their qualification. These include working within the local economy, continuing to study, or both.
Providing Local Opportunities
One of the main reasons for the current government FE College review is to reduce overlap. It’s a fair concern. Many secondary and private schools offer sixth form programmes also offered at colleges. Simultaneously, many colleges provide undergraduate degrees offered at Universities. It might not be efficient, but what this volume provides is accessibility.
There’s roughly 160 Universities in the UK, however geographical barriers remain a challenge for many. Universities are often located in larger cities, forcing students to travel, sometimes at large cost. In contrast there are an estimated 214 further education colleges in the UK, located in many local regions Universities are not. Their geography is their strength with regards to serving the community.
Also keep in mind that a majority of FE College students are age 16-18, living at home with their parents. Locality is incredibly important for students to be able to both regularly attend their school and maintain a quality of study.
Widening Participation
One of the lessor known facts about FE Colleges is how much they support widening participation initiatives.
Statistics show at least one in five people who attend FE college have some form of learning difficulty or disability. Colleges provide critical support for these students, some who’ve struggled to study under a purely academically and theoretically focused curriculums. Students attending these Colleges greatly benefit from the structure of College, helping to prepare them for work or further study.
FE Colleges also supports adult learning. People who are returning to school after a few years of work to upskill in a given area or trade. While Universities do promote lifelong learning programmes, they are primarily for those who’ve previously excelled in education. Colleges help equalise opportunities for adults returning to school who require help catching up.
Finally there’s the matter of cost. Simply put, College programmes cost a lot less than University tuition. Now this point specifically addresses the returning adult cohort, as the government funds College tuition for 16-18 year olds. There are fluctuations, but adults pay roughly $1k for further education courses, vs the £9,250 for University. Cost can be a huge barrier for students, especially during a cost of living crisis, making College much more accessible.
Why FE Colleges are Critical for the UK Education System
So why are FE Colleges so important? It’s not just that they help student’s develop essential skills for work and life. It is not because they serve local communities in regions where Universities aren’t present. It’s not because they support widening participation efforts for adult learners and those with learning difficulties at lower cost. It is the combination of all these factors which stresses the need to preserve FE College systems that yield tangible results. The government will do well to consider these factors in their funding review. Because without the continued success of FE Colleges, many learners will be left behind.
