1st Edition

Understanding the Further Education Sector History, Challenges, and Achievements

By Jim Crawley Copyright 2025
    206 Pages
    by Routledge

    206 Pages
    by Routledge

    Focusing on a less well-known area of education, the Further Education (FE) sector, this book provides education studies students a chance to provoke reflection, analysis and understanding, as well as personal and professional development in the area. Jim Crawley brings over 40 years’ experience working in or with the FE sector, reflected in his committed and passionate approach alongside carefully balanced academic analysis and discussion.

    The book covers subsectors of FE including colleges, skills for life, work-based learning and offender learning, and cross sector themes such as working and managing, social justice, equality and diversity and sustainability. The book also supports independent study and complements other topics and themes across an education studies degree. 

    The book is perfect for new and existing students of Education Studies, joint honours courses, teacher training, and those researching for a master’s degree or doctorate. It is the definitive text in the field, and ideal for anyone wanting to further their understanding of the FE sector.

    Introduction

    1. Introducing the sector

    2. Further Education Colleges

    3. Managing and working in Further Education

    4. Work-based learning

    5. Adult and Community Learning

    6. Widening participation and access to higher education

    7.Higher Education in Further Education (HE in FE)

    8. Education for social justice - equality, and diversity

    9. Skills for Life (SfL)

    10. Covid 19

    11. 14-19 education

    12. Sustainability

    13. Specialist colleges

    14. Offender Learning

    15. Making connections - the future of Further Education

     

    Biography

    Jim Crawley is a Visiting Teaching and Learning Fellow at Bath Spa University. He has worked in Further Education since 1974, including projects with unemployed young people to co-ordinating a national research network. Jim has published widely on Teaching, Professionalism, Teacher Education all in FE, and Advanced Research techniques for the wider education sector.