Post 16 Education in the United Kingdom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Post 16 Education in the United Kingdom - Essay Example Simultaneously, the organizational structure of the post 16 education is rather complex and can be delivered through several different means: (Lea, 2003) According to Walkin (2000), 'young adults must realize their full potential as active and effective members of society at large, and at all kinds of public and voluntary bodies, thus it is the state responsibility to provide the necessary models for young adults' action and participation'. To follow this task and to provide effective and efficient post 16 education, there has been developed a national and local system of post 16 educational establishments. On the national level, the main organization responsible for the post 16 education is the national Learning and Skills Council. Its main responsibilities lie in 'funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England'. (Learning and Skills Council, 2003) The strategic aim of the organization is to give the young 16-year-old adults in England the best skills for further education and work in the world. The work of the LSC is made more efficient through the well developed operating structure, which has its offices in 47 local areas. The LSC is not responsible for the post 16 education in the Universities. ... prise Councils and the knowledge of the Further Education Funding Council, together with making the cooperation with employers, community groups and learning providers closer and more effective. From the critical viewpoint, the LSC should be also involved into the area of University education for 16-year-old, as the centralization of functions will bring the desired high control over the whole system of post-16 education and the realization of the most urgent needs and means of achieving the strategic goals. The LSC is divided into the four different groups which are learning, skills, resources and strategy and communications. The 47 local offices represent the local structure responsible for the post 16 education, together with the following local institutions, being integral of the state educational system in the country. Sixth Form Colleges There are 103 sixth form colleges in England, some of them are related to secondary schools, and some are absolutely independent. To make the organizational structure close to perfect, in some local areas all post 16 provisions, related to different secondary schools, have been merged into one local college. These kinds of colleges usually offer wider ranges of options and curriculums for the students, than it is in usual secondary schools during the two last years of education. (Huddleston, 1997) Further education colleges The main similarity of the further education colleges and the sixth form colleges lies in the fact that they provide programs, which are much alike, but in addition also offer a range of vocational training programs and opportunities for their students. The critical role of these entities is in attracting students from secondary schools, who didn't wish to continue their study in the same environment and