Further Education

FE colleges generally offer vocational (work related) and specialist qualifications. They tend to provide courses for 16-18 year olds, as well as adult learners and often have close links with the community.

FE colleges offer a wide range of courses at a variety of levels. Each college is different, so you will need to check with a chosen college and what courses they offer. Some of the most usual courses include: Catering and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Health and Social Care, Childcare, Business Studies, ICT/Computing, Hair and Beauty, Sport and Public Services, Performing Arts, Media, Art, Animal Care, Construction, however there are many more on offer.

FE colleges also offer other courses such as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) to help develop English Language skills.

The qualifications linked to these vocational areas could be: NVQs, BTECs, HNCs, HNDs and Foundation Degrees. These qualifications (mostly NVQ and BTEC) are offered at different levels depending on the young person’s prior attainment.

These can range from entry level 1 – 3, usually aimed at young people who achieved below E/F grades or who have SEND, right up to Level 1 – 3 (level 3 equivalent to A levels).

• Level 1 requires 2’s at GCSE
• Level 2 requires four x 3’s at GCSE
• Level 3 requires five x 4’s at GCSE (inc English and Maths at 4+)

These can vary for each college provider.

Salford City College is our main FE provider in the city of Salford. This has recently been named as the number one FE college in Greater Manchester and has a ‘Good’ rating from OFSTED.

They have five centres, four of which offer vocational programmes as follows:

• Eccles Centre vocational BTEC courses in: Business, Childcare, Health and Social Care, Animal Care, Public Services, Sport, Travel and Tourism – most courses offered Level 1–3 •
• Walkden Centre vocational BTEC courses in Hospitality and Catering (L1 – 3), Health and Social Care (L1 – 3), Hair (L1 – 3) and Beauty (L2 and 3)
• City Skills Centre (near Salford University) offers all construction courses, Hair and Beauty and ESOL. Entry Level – Level 3 •
• Futureskills Centre vocational BTEC courses in Accounting, ICT, Media, Games Design, Creative Music Production. Level 1 – 3 in most
• Pendleton Centre vocational BTEC courses in Art, Graphic Design, Photography, Textiles and Fashion, Dance, Musical Theatre, Performing Arts, Technical Theatre, Forensic Science, Mechanical Engineering, applied

Other main vocational providers which Salford young people move onto include: Bolton College, Trafford College, The Manchester College, Bury College

Information taken from:

Your guide to pathways and provision 2017/2018

A leaflet for the 2017/2018 academic year has been developed as part of Salford City Council’s continued support to teachers, governors, parents and carers to inform and raise awareness of the pathways available post-16 and where young people can choose to study from aged 14 (Key Stage 4).