So what is the #FE Sector? A guide to the Further Education system in England

The Education and Training Foundation launches launch new guide on the Further Education system in England

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has launched a new simple guide on the Further Education system in England – ‘So what is the FE Sector?’.

The guide gives a clear explanation of what the Further Education (FE) sector is, what the different types of providers are in the sector and what opportunities the sector offers for potential learners, their parents, teachers and trainers, and employers.

The FE sector is a large, wide-ranging and significant pillar of the education system offering a range of education and training opportunities, including technical, academic and recreational courses.

The guide has been designed to give a basic overview of the FE sector to everyone whether they are a school-leaver, an adult returning to learning, a parent, policymaker, employer, education providers, a current practitioner or someone looking to start a career as a teacher or trainer.

The ETF developed the guide as part of its role as the government-backed, national workforce development body for the FE sector.

The guide is split into two sections:

• Part One provides an outline of the different types of FE providers, followed by a summary of some approaches to learning that are prominent in the sector.
• Part Two outlines some of the different types of qualifications available.

David Russell, Chief Executive at the Education and Training Foundation, said:

“Given how central Further Education is to the future of our country and how it forms one of the three central pillars of our education system, it is often been a challenge to explain it easily and simply. We felt this could no longer continue so set ourselves the task of producing a basic and clear guide which can be used by a multitude of different people and audiences as a starting point.

“We are confident the guide provides the core information that anyone with an interest in our sector, from learners to leaders and practitioners to policy makers, will find useful.”