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Policy Areas

Every year, colleges educate and train three million people. This includes over two million adults and 846,000 16 to 18-year-olds, almost double the number who choose school and academy sixth forms. College courses range from entry-level basic maths and English right through to postgraduate qualifications which may be vocational or academic. Success rates (a combination of student achievement and retention) for further education (FE) in colleges are impressive at around 85%.

AoC’s team of policy experts, who have extensive experience in FE, act as an intermediary between policy makers and colleges across all areas of teaching and learning. AoC informs government officials about revising policies to make them more relevant to colleges and helps colleges cope with the impact of changes. We work across all areas of teaching and learning and with key stakeholders, including the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), Ofsted awarding organisations, OfS, QAA, HESA, Skills England and many more.

14-16

10,100 14 to 15-year-olds are enrolled in colleges full or part-time.

14-16

16-18

644,000 16 to 18-year-olds study in colleges.

An additional 49,000 16 to 18-year olds undertake an apprenticeship through colleges

16-18

Adults

914,000 adults study or train in college.

Adults

Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement

There are 147,000 people on apprenticeship provision in colleges (of these 50,000 are aged under 19)

The average general FE college trains 900 apprentices

Apprenticeships and Employer Engagement

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance

Digital Technology

Higher Education

92,000 people study higher education in a college.

145 colleges are currently on the Office for Students (OfS) register of English higher education providers, offering undergraduate and/or postgraduate level courses

Higher Education

SEND

23% of all students in colleges have a learning difficulty and/or disability.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Student Support

74% of colleges increased resources on student mental health 74% in the last 12 month

100% of colleges have formal structures in place to support the health and wellbeing of staff

Student Support

T Levels

19,900 students across 164 colleges are doing T Levels in 18 subject areas.

T Levels