Further Education: United Kingdom

Further education (FE) in the United Kingdom is a sector of education that sits between secondary schooling and higher education (HE) and encompasses everything within UK education not provided by schools and universities. FE is often referred to as the ‘post-compulsory sector’ as school leavers can choose to continue their education once their compulsory schooling has finished. Some countries refer to this educational sector as ‘tertiary’, meaning the third phase, after primary and secondary. Although HE is also a post-compulsory sector, it differs from FE as the provision HE offers is at degree level.

The type of educational provision provided by FE is wide and varied and accommodates a diversity of learners. The FE institutions are also varied and can include FE colleges, sixth form ...

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