• Public Information Framework
• Structure of Framework
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • Scope, Vision and Benefits
  • Performance Indicators
  • Development of the Framework
  • Publication and Dissemination
  • How the Framework will be used
• Publications

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is FE Choices?

FE Choices is part of the Further Education Public Information (FEPI) framework.  2012 will be the first year that the four performance indicators which were previously published under the Framework for Excellence (FfE), will now be published within the FEPI framework

FE choices is an independent and official application for comparing performance information about all further education colleges and other organisations that receive Government funds that offer education and training to people over the age of 16. Information is provided about organisations that offer academic and vocational subjects, apprenticeships, and training on and off the job.

FE Choices is formed from a set of performance indicators that cover aspects of a college or provider’s provision such as:

• Success rates
• Satisfaction levels of learners and employers
• Learner destinations

Information is published annually about a number of different areas including:

• How many people pass the qualification they start;
• The satisfaction of learners who are studying or learning at an organisation about their experience;
• Employers’ satisfaction about the service and training they have received for their staff; and
• Information about the percentage of learners and trainees who take steps forward in learning or their employment

It will:

• Provide robust and timely information on the performance of the post-16 providers
• Give learners, parents and carers, careers teachers and advisers, employers and skills brokers the information they need to make informed choices about the quality of providers and post-16 education and training
• Help providers to improve the quality of provision by setting clear and measurable standards of excellence and providing a rich source of data for providers to benchmark themselves against
• Identify areas of under-performance to enable more effective intervention, support and challenge
• Identify excellence, so that this can be used to support improvements across the sector.

2. How does FE Choices sit within the wider context of changes in the sector?

FE Choices provides a vital role in providing appropriate information through its performance indicators, and enabling the information produced to be shared effectively and efficiently. This will support the ambition of the Further Education (FE) sector to deliver provision of the highest calibre and create real and sustained opportunities for employers, young people and adults.

FE Choices plays a central role in simplifying and rationalising the delivery of performance data within FE sector.

3. How will FE Choices support quality improvement?

FE Choices will help providers to improve the quality of provision by setting clear and measurable standards of excellence and providing a rich source of data for providers to benchmark themselves against.

4. What guidance will the Skills Funding Agency give providers on how to prepare for FE Choices?

Full details on FE Choices and the four Performance Indicators is available through the FE Choices web pages.

5. What is the relationship between FE Choices scores and Ofsted?

Ofsted inspectors will draw on Framework indicators to support post-16 inspection activities.