Further education: The Middle Earth

Further education in London inherits a long and complex tradition that gives it a unique significance within the whole provision. Kept administratively at a low level by a somewhat mythical ceiling of work around O‐level, it essentially fills in the gaps left by the schools and higher education. Its function is part training, part social and educational, depending on who is viewing it. Its raison d'étre is 42 790 students in 13 colleges, most of whom would otherwise be receiving no education past 15 or 16.