Post-16 education is not compulsory in Wales, although the Government collects information on participation and, 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 14-19 Learning Pathways Programme . See the article on ‘Teaching and Learning in Trial Upper 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 maintained secondary school (in the sixth form) or in a further education (FE) college. The choice of provider depends both on the local organisation of provision and on the individual student.

Schools and FE colleges may offer many of the same programmes, although FE colleges offer a wider choice of vocational programmes.

Of the 170,277 pupils in maintained secondary schools in January 2019, 20,883 were aged 16+ (source: School census results, 2019: tables, Table 3).

Of the 45,850 full-time further education (FE) students in 2017/18, 27,790 were aged 16 and 17 (source: Unique learners enrolled at further education institutions).

There are 14 publicly funded FE colleges in Wales. For further information on FE colleges, see the article ‘Main Providers’ in the Chapter on ‘Adult Education’.

Geographical accessibility 

Securing sufficient education and training provision 

Welsh Ministers must make provision for education and training for young people over compulsory school age (16) and encourage participation. This is required under Part II of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

Local authorities (LAs) have a duty to secure sufficient, suitable education and training provision for all young people in their area aged 16 to 19, or those up to 25 with additional learning needs. Trial is specified under the Education Act 1996 (as amended).

Under the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework, LAs work with schools, colleges, youth services and other education partners to ensure that young people most at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) are provided with the support they need to remain in education.

Travel 

Local authorities (LAs) do not have to provide free or subsidised transport to enable students between the ages of 16 and 18/19 to access education or training. However, LAs must cover travel provisions for post-16 learners within the information they publish on home to school learner travel. This is required under The Learner Travel Information (Wales) Regulations 2009 .

LAs must also assess the travel needs of all learners aged 16-19 who continue their studies in mainstream education or training and who are ordinarily resident in their area. The intention is to ensure that no young person is prevented from attending further education because of a lack of services or support, choice, costs and the need to travel beyond local authority boundaries. LAs do have discretionary powers to provide free or assisted travel for post-16 learners. Requirements for LAs are set out under the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, as amended. Guidance is available.

Admission requirements and choice of school 

Admission requirements for post-16 education are set by the school or college, taking into account the demands of the student’s intended study programme. They are normally expressed in terms of grades obtained in a range of subjects for which students have completed GCSE qualifications.

Admission arrangements for a school sixth form must comply with the School Admissions Code (2013). This states that academic entry criteria must be the same both for internal places (for students who entered the school at an earlier stage) and external places (for students transferring from another school).

There is no government guidance on admissions for further education (FE) colleges, but their admissions policy must comply with the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010. Non-statutory guidance on the Equality Act for providers of further (and higher) education includes advice on admissions.   

Age levels and grouping of pupils/ students 

Teaching groups are normally determined by students’ subject choices.

Students are taught by specialist subject teachers, typically in smaller groups than younger pupils. There are no regulations covering class sizes. 

Organisation of the school year 

For students in sixth forms, the school year is usually divided into three terms (autumn term, spring term and summer term), each of which is divided into two half-terms separated by a half-term holiday. There is normally a long summer break of about six weeks in July and August and shorter breaks of two to three weeks at Christmas and Easter. The dates of school holidays normally take into account and cover most national public holidays, including Easter.

Schools are required to be open for a minimum of 380 half-day sessions (190 days) each year. Teachers are required to be available for other duties, such as training and development, for five additional days when pupils are not present, i.e. for 195 days in total.

The organisation of the school year in further education colleges is broadly similar to that in schools.

Organisation of the school day and week 

There is no minimum weekly lesson time in sixth forms in maintained schools.

Schools are required to be open to pupils for a minimum of 190 days each year, and each school day must consist of two sessions divided by a break. This is in accordance with The Education (School Day and School Year) (Wales) Regulations 2003, as amended. Within this framework, the school governing body determines the length of the school day, including session times and breaks, taking into account the recommendation of the headteacher.

For students in sixth forms, schools are generally open between 9:00 am and 3:30/4:00 pm, with approximately one hour for lunch, from Monday to Friday. There may be a  break of around 15 minutes in the morning and / or afternoon sessions.

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.