Understanding the Further Education Sector: History, Challenges, and Achievements

Focusing on a less well-known area of education, the Further Education (FE) sector, this book provides education studies students a chance to provoke reflection, analysis, and understanding, as well as personal and professional development in the area. Jim Crawley brings over 40 years’ experience working in or with the FE sector, reflected in his committed and passionate approach alongside carefully balanced academic analysis and discussion.

This book covers subsectors of FE including colleges, skills for life, work-based learning, and offender learning and cross-sector themes such as working and managing, social justice, equality, diversity, and sustainability. This book also supports independent study and complements other topics and themes across an education studies degree.

This book is perfect for new and existing students of education studies, joint honours courses, teacher training, and those researching for a master’s degree or doctorate. It is the definitive text in the field and ideal for anyone wanting to further their understanding of the FE 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.