Welsh pool expertise

Welsh further education college heads have called for a common post-16 framework for all FE institutions and schools in Wales.

They should work in partnership to give students a wide choice of academic and vocational courses, they told the Welsh Affairs select committee in the House of Commons this week. And colleges should have access to names and addresses of all 15 to 16 year-olds to promote their courses.

The Welsh Colleges' Forum, FFORWM, says in its evidence: "Schools generally do not possess either the human or physical resources for the delivery of quality vocational education, but could operate on a partnership basis with neighbouring colleges to enrich the curriculum offered. Such partnerships could also reduce steerage towards the 'service industry'."