The paper discusses major aspects of the development of the British further education sector including: the nature of the ‘plural’ curriculum, diversity of student cohort, the funding regulations under which colleges have operated and the function of this sector to qualify students for transfer to higher education either within a further education college or a university.

The second part of the paper compares the contribution made by colleges in the drive for mass higher education, in each of the four UK countries.  In particular, two models are identified one as a response to new policy in England (and Wales) and the other reflecting the established development in Scotland.  The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education (1997) is discussed and the Government’s subsequent response which included the introduction of the Foundation Degree and an increase in franchised provision in further education colleges..

The concluding discussion considers the issues and dilemmas which each of the two models of college based undergraduate provision present, particularly in terms of the mission and political requirements of further education colleges.  This paper is published in Focus:  Journal of Research and Scholarly Output, 1, pp 3-18. This paper is also available on the FurtherHigher Project website at www.sheffield.ac.uk/furtherhigher

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