Choosing a college

Choosing a further education college

Further education (FE) colleges offer a wide range of courses for after Year 11, from entry level to level 3.

FE colleges also work with employers to offer work-based training such as:

Explore courses

You can search for courses on these local college websites:

Support at college

Colleges must support students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Colleges should explain the support they offer on their websites. As well as learning support, there is also support for your wellbeing, including mental health support, transition support and counselling.

Once you have applied for a course, the college should meet with you to plan your support.

Foundation courses

If you need a higher level of support, a foundation course might be right for you. These courses are often taught in a smaller area of the college to help you build confidence. Found out more about foundation courses.

How to apply

Apply for the college course directly through their website. It is best to do this in the autumn or early spring term of Year 11.

Applying with an EHCP

You can talk about college options at your annual reviews in Year 9 and 10.

In Year 11, you need to:

Apply directly for the college course in the autumn or early spring term
Contact the SEND Team to let them know you have applied

The SEND Team will consult with the college so that everyone understands how best to support you.

By 31 March of Year 11, your EHCP must be updated with the name of your college or setting.

This process is called a phase transfer. You can read more about it in the section on moving into post-16 education with an EHCP.

Bursary fund

Colleges can offer bursary funding to help with:

travel costs
equipment
trips
course fees

Bursary support depends on your household income. Check individual college websites for details.