The Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) is an organisation that represents over 90
sixth form
In the education systems of Barbados, England, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales, and some other Commonwealth countries, sixth form represents the final two years of secondary education, ages 16 to 18. Pupils typically prepa ...
education providers in England; its members are
sixth form colleges
A sixth form college (pre-university college in Malaysia) is an educational institution, where students aged 16 to 19 study typically for advanced post-school level qualifications such as A Levels, Business and Technology Education Council lev ...
and other providers of 16–19 education, including
academies
An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...
and
further education colleges
Further education (often abbreviated FE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland is additional education to that received at secondary school that is distinct from the higher education (HE) offered in universities and other academic institutions. It ...
. There are over 160,000 students studying at a sixth form college, and the sector is responsible for over 20% of the
A levels
The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational a ...
sat in England each year.
SFCA has been representing the interests of the sector since sixth form colleges became independent
corporation
A corporation or body corporate is an individual or a group of people, such as an association or company, that has been authorized by the State (polity), state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law as ...
s in 1992. The SFCA leads national negotiations with recognised
trade unions
A trade union (British English) or labor union (American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers whose purpose is to maintain or improve the conditions of their employment, such as attaining better wages ...
on pay and conditions of staff in 16-19 providers. The SFCA produces a range of publications, including an annual funding survey that outlines the impact of funding cuts on 16-19 providers.
The SFCA also act as the secretariat for the
All Party Parliamentary Group for Sixth Form Colleges.
Post-16 area reviews
In 2015, the
Department for Education
The Department for Education (DfE) is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for child protection, child services, education in England, educati ...
announced a major restructuring of the
further education
Further education (often abbreviated FE) in the United Kingdom and Ireland is additional education to that received at secondary school that is distinct from the higher education (HE) offered in universities and other academic institutions. It ...
sector, through
37 area reviews of
post-16 provision.
Department for Education. Retrieved 01 May 2017. The SFCA criticised the reviews for not directly including providers of post-16 education other than colleges, such as school and academy sixth form college, sixth forms and independent training providers.
References
External links
* {{Official website
Register of the APPG for Sixth Form Colleges
Educational organisations based in the United Kingdom
Sixth form colleges in the United Kingdom