Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of provision for 14 to 16-year-olds in further education colleges on (a) student (i) enrollment and (ii) attendance and (b) students in non-mainstream education.

The department wants to ensure that all young people receive the education that is right for them. For over a decade now, colleges have been able to apply to directly enrol 14 to 16-year-olds in full time programmes, to enable students who wish it to undertake technical courses as part of a broad and balanced curriculum that includes English, mathematics and science.

To ensure provision is suitable and high quality, a number of criteria are in place. Colleges enrolling 14 to 16-year-olds must have either an Ofsted ‘outstanding’, grade 1, or ‘good’, grade 2, overall effectiveness judgement, have a dedicated space for these young people, and dedicated leadership for them.

The department is clear, in the guidance regarding full-time enrolment of 14 to 16-year-olds in further education (FE) and sixth-form colleges, that colleges should work collaboratively with the appropriate local authorities in order to share information about attendance or absences. Attendance will also form part of Ofsted’s judgement. This guidance can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/full-time-enrolment-of-14-to-16-year-olds-in-further-education-and-sixth-form-colleges/full-time-enrolment-of-14-to-16-year-olds-in-further-education-and-sixth-form-colleges-2023-to-2024-academic-year.

14 to 16-year-olds can also attend FE colleges to access alternative provision to give them access to alternative pathways or to help them re-engage in learning. Placements are usually part-time and short-term, with the child being dual-registered at their home school and the FE college. Alternative provision at FE colleges is reviewed as part of an inspection of the home school at which they are registered.