This article covers general upper secondary education for 16- to 18/19-year-olds, which is usually referred to as ‘post-16’ or ‘sixth form’ education.
Post-16 education is not compulsory in Northern Ireland, although the Department for the Economy collects information on participation, in particular on the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
For young people aged 16 to 18/19 in full-time education, a study programme leading to A Levels is the most common general (academic) pathway. It is, however, possible to combine elements of general and vocational pathways and this is encouraged under the 'Entitlement Framework’. See the article on ‘Teaching and Learning in General Lower Secondary Education’ for further information.
Vocational courses for 16- 18/19-year-olds are covered in the articles on ‘Vocational Upper Secondary Education’.
Note: Although most post-16 programmes are intended to last for a maximum of two years (16- to 18-year-olds), the funding framework applies to 16- to 19-year-olds. For this reason, the age range 16–18/19 is adopted throughout this description.
Types of institutions
Students aged 16-18/19 can follow general programmes either in a post-primary school in the sixth form, or in a further education (FE) college. The choice between type of provider depends on the local organisation of provision and on individual student choice.
Schools and FE colleges may offer many of the same programmes, although FE colleges tend to offer a wider range of vocational programmes.
In the 2018/19 school year, out of a total of 142,239 pupils enrolled in grant-aided post-primary schools, approximately 28,000 were in sixth forms, 63% of all 16-17 year olds in Northern Ireland. Source: Annual Enrolments at Schools and in Pre-school Education in Northern Ireland – 2018/19.
The six regional further education (FE) colleges, which operate across 40 community campuses in Northern Ireland, are also major providers of full-time courses for 16- to 18/19-year-olds. In the 2017/18 academic year, of the 129,054 regulated enrolments in FE colleges, over three-fifths (62.6%) related to students aged 19 and under. Source: p.23 of Further Education Activity in Northern Ireland: 2013/14 to 2017/18 Bulletin.
For further information on FE colleges, see the article on ‘Main Providers’ in the Adult Education and Training chapter.
Geographical accessibility
Under the ‘Entitlement Framework‘, all students aged 16-18/19 – regardless of where they live and which school or further education (FE) college they attend – are entitled to access a broad and balanced curriculum, which must include a minimum number of general and applied / vocational courses. They are also eligible for assistance with transport to ensure that they can access this provision.
Since September 2017, schools and colleges have been required to provide post-16 students with access to a minimum of 21 courses. One third of these must be general, and one third applied. The legal entitlement to a minimum number of courses was introduced in September 2013 under Sections 18-22 of The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
Schools and FE colleges collaborate as members of an ‘Area Learning Community’ (ALC) to ensure that they can deliver the full range of courses, as few schools are able to deliver the full offer themselves.
Home-school travel
Transport is regarded as an important factor in achieving equality of opportunity and access.
The Education Authority (EA) is required to make arrangements to facilitate the attendance of students aged 16-18/19 at grant-aided schools or further education (FE) colleges, and must provide assistance with school transport where a student meets the eligibility criteria.
Students aged 16-18/19 are entitled to assistance if there is no suitable school or college within statutory qualifying distance of their home, or if they have been refused a place in all suitable schools / colleges within statutory qualifying distance. This is 3 miles (4.8 kilometres). This is set out under Section 52 of The Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, as substituted by Section 23 of The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. Further information is provided in the EA Home to School Transport Guide and in Circular 1996/41.
A review of home-to-school transport policy took place between December 2018 and June 2019, with the aim of ensuring that future policy is fit for purpose and sustainable in the long term. The review team is creating a shortlist of potential options to be analysed in greater detail, prior to any future full public consultation on any proposed changes. The earliest any revised policy would come into effect would be September 2022-23.
Admission requirements and choice of school
Admission requirements for post-16 education are set by individual schools and colleges, taking into account the demands of the student’s intended study programme. A wide range of study programmes is available, aiming to cater for students of all abilities.
Admission requirements are normally expressed in terms of grades obtained in a range of subjects for which students have completed GCSE qualifications.
Age levels and grouping of pupils/ students
Teaching groups are normally determined by students’ subject choices, and students are taught by specialist subject teachers, typically in smaller groups than younger pupils.
In post-primary school sixth form provision, class sizes may not exceed a maximum of 20 pupils in practical subjects, as set out in The Secondary School (Grant Conditions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1973. Practical subjects include science, technology and design, home economics, art and design, physical education, and music. Classes in these subjects may only exceed 20 where approved by the Department of Education, and where schools have first undertaken a health and safety risk assessment. Guidance is provided.
Organisation of the school year
For students in sixth forms, the school year begins in early September and is divided into three terms: autumn term, spring term and summer term. There is usually a long summer break of around nine weeks, with shorter breaks of around two weeks at Christmas and at Easter, and two-day breaks in October and February.
Schools are required to be in operation for 200 days a year, and teachers are required to be available for work on 195 days, of which no more than 190 days should involve teaching children in the classroom. The five non-contact days are used for training purposes.
The number of days that pupils are taught in the classroom may vary from 185 to 190 days when teacher training, school development days and optional closing days are taken into account. For further information, see the subheading on the ‘Organisation of the School Year' in the article on the ‘Organisation of General Lower Secondary Education’.
The organisation of the school year in further education colleges is broadly similar to that in schools.
Organisation of the school day and week
The Department of Education (DE) does not provide guidance on recommended minimum weekly lesson times, but schools are required to allow sufficient time to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum that meets all legal requirements. They may provide a longer school day than the official minimum of four and a half hours each day, separated by a period of not less than half an hour. DE Circular 2013/09 provides further information.
Classes take place on five days, Monday to Friday, and schools are generally open between 9.00 am and 3.30/4.00 pm, with approximately one hour for lunch. A break of around 15 minutes may punctuate the morning and / or afternoon session. The timetable for students in school sixth forms will often include periods of independent study during the school day when they are not being taught.
The board of governors of a school determines the times at which a school opens and closes each day (usually on the advice of the principal (headteacher)).
Further education (FE) colleges enjoy autonomy with respect to the organisation of the teaching day and week. That said, for students aged 16 to 18/19 following full-time courses of post-compulsory education, the organisation is broadly the same as that in schools.
Article last reviewed April 2021.