The UK Further Education Sector

Background

Further Education in the UK is particularly sensitive to social and political change, and the last two years have seen dramatic changes with the advent of the QCF, the new coalition government and the release of the Wolf Report. In this volatile market it is essential for publishers to keep abreast with the latest developments in order to take full advantage of market opportunities as well as to avoid making expensive mistakes by investing in disappearing qualification types and subject areas.

This report gives UK Further Education publishers a go-to reference for the sector as it now stands, covering latest reforms, a guide to funding, the background and latest developments for each qualification type and an analysis of the latest publically available FE data.

Project Scope and Key Questions

Recent history of further education in the UK
- Major changes in FE reform in the last two years, including the QCF, The English Baccalaureate and The Wolf Report
- Funding
- Recent changes and their implications
- New funding models for Apprenticeships, 14-19. Post-16 and adults explained
- Implications of the Wolf Report for colleges and publishers
The Qualifications
- Looking in detail at each of the current qualification types in the sector giving for each one:
  - The history of the qualification
  - Implications of the QCF, the Wolf Report and the latest reforms for each individual qualification type
  - Compilation of FE data and publically available candidate numbers, including analysis and tabular and statistical analytics, showing:
  - Indication of comparable data by year and by level, and where relevant by territory
  - A guide to emerging trends in key subject categories where candidate data is publically available
  - Suggested publishing opportunities
Cross sector initiatives
- Looking at the latest initiatives cutting across the whole FE sector: Functional Skills, Foundation Learning, Employability and the Green Agenda
Publishing
- An overview of recent trends in print and digital publishing
- A snapshot view of the key players including company structures, key imprints and awarding body and other relationships
Awarding Organisations and Sector Skills Councils (SSCs)
- Update on the roles of AOs and SSCs including recent changes
- Overview of the awarding body landscape: key players, emerging and new awarding organisations
Institution types
- Background and latest developments for each of the existing and new institution types in FE including UTCs, Studio Schools and Academies.
An overview Glossary of acronyms and key terms

Methodology

Desk research included internet research, telephone calls to awarding organisations, sector skills councils and relevant government departments, and in-depth analysis of publicly available FE data.

Costs

Report (Digital copy) - £1500 + VAT

Additional paper copies available at £10 per copy

Timing

This report was released on 31st April 2011.

Contact

To order a copy of this report, or to find out more about this project please contact Jenny Kedros. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Tel: +44 (0)207 253 8959

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