1. Gareth Parry University of Sheffield
Further, Higher, Better?
Gareth Parry
University of Sheffield

2. Why divide, and does it matter?
a long-standing feature?
an English peculiarity?
an issue for public policy?

3. Some policy history ... 1944: an FE system + the universities
1966: colleges-polytechnics + the universities
1988: FE + polytechnics + the universities
1992: FE + HE
2000: L&S + HE

4. Staying with sectors ... Policy silence, except for:
the uniqueness of HE
the disorder of post-16

5. From elite to mass: the FE contribution
England: a ‘qualifying’ rather than ‘providing’ role for FE
Scotland: a leading role for FE in taking HE expansion

6. From mass to near-universal access: the FE contribution
England: breaking the traditional pattern of demand, with dual sectors (‘the English experiment’)
Scotland: holding at 50%, with tertiary arrangements

8. Contemporary configurations of FE and HE
mixed economy colleges
dual-sector universities
cross-sector partnerships

10. Dual-sector universities
FE:HE
TVU :40
Leeds Metropolitan University 45:55
University of the Arts 50:50
University of Derby 40:60
Writtle College 90:10
Birmingham CFTCS 80:20

11. Semi-compulsory partnerships
for validation
for (indirect) funding
for (increasing & widening) participation
for (vocational) progression: Lifelong Learning Networks, with additional funded numbers

12. So, do sectors matter? no restraint on partnerships
functional for some
a check on mission drift?
but:
asymmetries of policy and power
‘double stratification’: social & institutional
a common enterprise?

13. After 2010?
spending review
fee deregulation
demographic downturn

14. The ESRC FurtherHigher Project
Why do the English divide?
With what effect on organisations?
With what impact on participation and equity?