Understanding the Further Education Sector

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. He has published widely on Teaching, Professionalism, and Teacher Education all in FE and Advanced Research techniques for the wider education sector.

“Jim Crawley’s book is a refreshing read. The book chapters are logically sequenced and cover a range of themes in a sensitive way. The book is reader friendly and easy to follow. The Further Education history timeline is succinct and captures the FE journey in a compelling manner. The section on ACL celebrates its contribution to the rich FE tapestry. I have already incorporated sections of the book when teaching on the new PGCE FE 2025 specifications. It is on the PGCE reading list.”Dr Charmaine Brown, Senior Lecturer, University of Greenwich, UK“This book provides an insightful and comprehensive explanation of the Further Education (FE) sector. Jim Crawley cuts through complexity to explain how the sector has become as it is and what continues to influence how colleges function. While examining the organisation, history and politics of the sector, Crawley maintains a constant watch for how students and staff are affected. The combination of well-informed analysis with commitment to the values associated with FE make this a valuable book for those who wish to better understand the sector as well as those who care about it.”Kevin Orr, Visiting Professor, University of Huddersfield, UK“This gem of a book provides an insight into the scope and diversity of Further Education in England. The chapters cover the significant historical events that have shaped FE provision and outline its evolution over time. They also address important topics, such as the sector’s role in promoting education for social justice, equality, and diversity. The book is accessible and is structured in a way that allows the reader to dip in and out or read from cover to cover! There are useful discussion points in each chapter, as well as sector stories which bring the content to life. I would recommend this for anyone who is thinking about working in FE.”Dr Carol Thompson, MA Education Co-ordinator, University of Bedfordshire, UK

• 1. Introducing the sector2. Further education colleges3. Managing and working in further education4. Work-based learning (WBL)5. Adult and community learning (ACL)6. Widening participation (WP) and access to higher education7. Higher education in further education (HE in FE)8. Education for social justice, equality, and diversity9. Skills for life (SfL)10. COVID-1911. 14–19 education12. Sustainability13. Specialist colleges14. Offender learning15. Making connections – The future of further education