Sixth Form Colleges' Association

The Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) is an organisation that represents over 90 sixth form education providers in England; its members are sixth form colleges and other providers of 16–19 education, including academies and further education colleges. There are over 160,000 students studying at a sixth form college, and the sector is responsible for over 20% of the A levels sat in England each year.

SFCA has been representing the interests of the sector since sixth form colleges became independent corporations in 1992.^[1] The SFCA leads national negotiations with recognised trade unions on pay and conditions of staff in 16-19 providers. The SFCA produces a range of publications, including an annual funding survey^[2] that outlines the impact of funding cuts on 16-19 providers.^[3][4]

The SFCA also act as the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sixth Form Colleges.^[5]

Post-16 area reviews

In 2015, the Department for Education announced a major restructuring of the further education sector, through 37 area reviews of post-16 provision.^[6] The SFCA criticised the reviews for not directly including providers of post-16 education other than colleges, such as school and academy sixth forms and independent training providers.^[7] The proposals were similarly criticised by NUS then-Vice President for Further Education Shakira Martin for not sufficiently taking into account the impact on learners.^[8]