Secondary or Further Education?

Hi Everyone,

I'm sorry to raise this subject once again, I have read all the relevant forum threads regarding level 2, level 3, Secondary and Further Education but still seem to be in a grey area. Everything I've read, including an email from the college the student is attending, from the Student Recruitment Manager that says, "I can confirm that any course studied with ************ College would be classified as Further Education," leads me to believe that the person in question is in Further Education, not Secondary Education.

The confusion arises from the Education Act 1992, paragraph 14. Can anyone please explain to me in laymans' terms, the difference between points 2 and 3? Incidentally, the student in question left the school were they took their GCSEs, aged 16 plus, started at a college and attended the course for a year before deciding they didn't want to continue it, so they swapped both the college and the course. Does this break the "if they continue to attend that course" in point 3.

The relevant section of the Act is below and any assistance would be massively appreciated.

Regards,



14 Meaning of "further education", "secondary education", "school" and "pupil"

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, for the purposes of the Education Acts education to which this subsection applies, that is, full-time education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age who have not attained the age of nineteen years, is further education not secondary education.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, for the purposes of those Acts -

=1.2rem(a) education falling within section 8(1)(b) of the Education Act 1944 (c. 31) (full-time education suitable to the requirements of pupils of compulsory school age), and

(b) education to which subsection (1) above applies provided at a school where education falling within section 8(1)(b) of that Act is also provided,

is secondary education not further education.

(3) For the purposes of the Education Acts education provided for persons who have attained the age of nineteen years is further education not secondary education; but where a person has begun a particular course of secondary education before attaining the age of eighteen years, then, if he continues to attend that course, the education does not cease to be secondary education by reason of his having attained the age of nineteen years.

As far as I am aware Secondary Education is compulsory and is from age 11 to 16 when you go to Secondary School.

Further Education is age 16+ and isn’t compulsory.

Sounds like point 1 is more relevant as they are in a Further Education course and under 19.

Point 3 says if they started a secondary Education course(think this maybe implies GCSE course/resits) before the age of 18 then they are still in Secondary Education even if they subsequently pass the age of 19 whilst completing the course.

Many thanks. Resists hadn't occurred to me and you may well be correct.