Exploring quality assurance in sixth form colleges
| Pages | 259-273 |
| Date | 06 July 2012 |
| Published date | 06 July 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/09684881211240312 |
| Author | David William Stoten |
| Subject Matter | Education |
Exploring quality assurance in
sixth form colleges
David William Stoten
Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough, UK
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to focus on the changing nature of quality assurance systems within the
sixth form college sector.
Design/methodology/approach – Ten sixth form colleges were surveyed across England and staff
from varying levels within college hierarchies questioned about how quality assurance systems were
implemented. Research involved interviews and questionnaires to staff, as well as documentary
research.
Findings – The main finding was that there is no single model of quality management system within
the sixth form colleges sector and that the clearest differences in practice are between the colleges in
the north and south of England which may suggest different organisational cultures in play.
Research limitations/implications – This paper was limited by the relatively small sample size –
ten from 94 sixth form colleges. However, it does provide a foundation for further research and a basis
upon which to debate whether the sixth form college sector should aim for a standardised model of
quality assurance.
Originality/value – Insufficient research is undertaken into the work of sixth form colleges
compared to the school and general further education sectors. This paper provides an insight into an
under-researched area.
Keywords Quality assurance,Sixth form college, New public management,Quasi-education market,
External qualityreview, Internal auditing, Colleges,Quality audit, United Kingdom,Colleges
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to explore quality assurance (QA) systems within English
Sixth Form Colleges (SFCs). In Cartmell et al. (2001), “Sector-wide transformational
leadership- how effectively is the EFQM Excellence Model used in the UK FE sector?”,
the authors call for colleges to adopt the European Foundation for Quality
Management (EFQM) Excellence Model as a quality assurance system. The EFQM
model is based on the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) and is
widely-used in the commercial sphere. Sixth Form Colleges were conjoined within the
much larger General Further Education Colleges (GFECs) in the Further Education
sector during 1993-2010 and although now located in their own sector, compete for
students who have left school. The primary research question that underpins this
paper is: do SFCs follow the path set by many GFECs in adopting industria l QA
models? If so, this would suggest that SFCs have adopted many of the philosophical as
well as practical precepts of the business environment. A second aim for this paper was
to address the lack of available research in SFCs and their implementation of QA. In
contrast to the schools and GFEC sectors, the SFC has generated relatively little
grounded research and even less into their operation of organic QA systems.
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0968-4883.htm
The origins of this paper were generated in the research for an MBA in Educational Management
at Leicester University.
Exploring QA in
sixth form
colleges
259
Quality Assurance in Education
Vol. 20 No. 3, 2012
pp. 259-273
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0968-4883
DOI 10.1108/09684881211240312
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