Best value for A levels

Sixth-form colleges are more efficient and cost-effective than further education colleges in turning out students with at least three A levels, a government study has found. Figures for 1996-97 show that although sixth-form colleges receive more funding overall than FE colleges, it costs them less to deliver the three A level package because they have higher achievement and lower drop-out rates. However, both FE and sixth-form colleges spent less than local authority or grant maintained schools in achieving the same result.