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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.


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