Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Further education

Further Education

  • What is Further Education (FE)?

    Further Education refers to educational choices made after reaching your 16th birthday. FE covers all qualifications lower than a degree.

  • A Levels, IB

    A levels are a qualification in a specific subject typically taken by school students aged 16–18, at a level above GCSE. The equivalent in Scotland is the Higher.

  • Art Foundation Diploma Course

    This is a BTEC vocational course that has three outcomes. It is a stand-alone qualification. Or it could suit school leavers who wish to test the water and see if they might like to continue on to study Art at university. Alternatively, this course is for those who are certain that they want to complete a BA in Fine Art. An Art Foundation course is generally preferred as the first step. 

  • BTEC Nationals

    BTEC Nationals, otherwise known as The Business and Technology Education Council qualification, are overseen by Pearson.  One million students sit BTEC Nationals each year and over 250,000 go on to HE.

  • HNCs & HNDs

    Many people will know BTEC Highers by the acronyms HNC (Higher National Certificate) and HND (Higher National Diploma). They are equivalent to completing years one or two at university.

  • NVQs

    NVQs in the past have received bad press but they do what they say on the tin and are excellent vocational qualifications for certain fields.

  • Technical Baccalaureate (TechBac)

    Newly introduced in 2014, the TechBac are practical, vocational, courses run by the City and Guilds aimed at 16-19-year-olds wanting technical qualifications and what are known as soft skills.

  • University Technical College (UTC)

    UTCs sit somewhere between school and the apprenticeship training programme. Set up in 2010 by the Baker Dearing Trust, a private foundation, UTCs are free, regionally-based and with enrolment catchment areas that are generally wider than normal.


Subscribe for instant access to in-depth reviews:

☑ 30,000 Independent, state and special schools in our parent-friendly interactive directory
☑ Instant access to in-depth UK school reviews
☑ Honest, opinionated and fearless independent reviews of over 1,000 schools
☑ Independent tutor company reviews

Try before you buy - The Charter School Southwark

The Good Schools Guide subscription

We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we'll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website. See our privacy policy for more information.

The Good Schools Guide 22nd edition is out now, and for a limited time get a one month free subscription with any purchase of The Good Schools Guide 22nd, or The Good Schools Guide to London.