ATL and the post-16 sector

ATL has almost 8,000 members in further education, sixth form colleges and working with post-16 adults in the community and this is the fastest growing sector of membership within ATL.

To keep members informed of education matters, as well as the Report magazine, each term Total FE is sent out to all members working in the post-16 sector to keep them up to date with news relevant to them. Total FE Newsletters

ATL also has publications giving advice on a range of education and employment issues, as well as research reports and policy statements on topical education issues. These can be downloaded free from www.atl.org.uk/resources  or members can obtain hard copies free.

In 2005/6 ATL formed a strategic task group of members working in the FE sector to write a position statement on FE developments. ATL's position statements on FE developments

From autumn 2007 there will be a post-compulsory education group within ATL to discuss and report on developments and matters affecting those employed in this sector. This group will comprise of members working in this sector and officers.

Government reorganisation
As a result of the Prime Minister’s decision to split the Department for Education and Skills, responsibility for further education will be divided between the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).

The DCSF will be coordinating education for 14-19 year olds in schools, sixth form colleges and FE colleges, encompassing the new vocational diplomas, but excluding under 19 apprenticeships which will be a DIUS responsibility.

DIUS will look after the adult side of FE along with higher education.

Another significant change is that the funding for 16-19 education in school sixth forms and FE colleges will come via local authorities instead of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).  However, the need for primary legislation means that the funding changes will not be completed until 2010-11. The Association will be discussing these changes with national representatives of the LSC in early September 2007. 

The Association is in a unique position to respond to the changes as it is the only teaching union recognised in the schools, the sixth form colleges and the FE college sectors. However, it will be essential that the two Departments work together for the benefit of the sector.

New regulations for ITT, CPD and principals' qualifications made
DIUS ministers have made the new regulations for England due to come into force on 1 September 2007 following parliamentary approval. They cover FE teachers' qualifications, FE Teachers' CPD, and FE Principals' Qualifications. View the draft ITT regulations, CPD regulations and principals' qualifications regulations here. Further DIUS guidance will be issued in September 2007 and LLUK will be issuing revised guidance on teacher roles shortly.

Working in the post-16 sector
The post-16 sector is a very diverse group. In some areas there are many similarities with schools but there are also significant differences. The sector covers a great variety of post-16 students and workplaces; from teaching in FE and sixth form colleges to teaching in prisons and with the adult community in a variety of contexts.