Further and higher education

This subtopic focuses on further and higher education provision, and the impact of the major reforms to both sectors introduced by the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 (HERA 2017) and the Technical and Further Education Act 2017. See News Analyses: The introduction of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 and Improving technical education—the Technical and Further Education Act 2017.

What is further education?

Further education (FE) is ‘full-time and part-time education suitable to the requirements of persons who are over compulsory school age (including vocational, social, physical and recreational training), and organised leisure-time occupation provided in connection with the provision of such education, except that it does not include secondary education or higher education’. It occurs primarily in a school or in a college of further education primarily to provide skills based training, as well as technical education.

What is higher education?

The provision of higher education (HE) in England and Wales dates back to the 12th century with the establishment of world renowned universities such as Oxford and Cambridge.

State involvement in the funding and provision of HE dates

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Latest Local Government News

Local Government weekly highlights—11 September 2025

This week's edition of Local Government weekly highlights includes: case analysis of R (AA) v Waltham Forest LBC, which sets out that judicial review is correct route to challenge section 189A plans under HA 1996; Chidswell Action Group v Kirklees Council, in which the court quashed planning permission where the section 106 agreement was not published pre-decision and Wild Justice v Pembrokeshire Coast NPA, in which the court quashed planning permission due to the authority's failure to publish a key ecological report. Case reports include R (AN) v Barking and Dagenham LBC, in which the court found the housing assessment breached statutory duties under HA 1996, CA 2004 and EqA 2010; R (Andrew Rickards) v East Hertfordshire DC, in which the court allowed a judicial review challenge of the LA's prior grant of approval to erect Green Belt polytunnels; R (Anaesthetists United Ltd) v GMC, in which the court rejected a judicial review application questioning whether GMC acted lawfully in implementing regulatory powers under Anaesthesia Associates and Physician Associates Order 2024 and A Local Authority v A Mother and others, in which the court rejected the LA care order applications in finding the parents' travel plans did not constitute unreasonable parenting. It also includes Ofsted's announcement of major changes to education inspection frameworks, the Education Committee's launch of an inquiry into early years sector reforms and further updates on Social housing, Healthcare, Public procurement, Education, Governance, Social care and Environmental law and climate change.

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