CIFE – the Council for Independent Education
Encyclopedia
CIFE is a professional association of English independent sixth-form
colleges. It provides support to its member institutions and advice about GCE Advanced Level and university entrance to anyone who asks for it. CIFE’s President is Baroness Perry of Southwark
decided that it was no longer willing to inspect such ‘educational establishments’, leaving that sector of education provision unchecked.
CIFE was founded by a group of colleges which felt that some form of inspection was essential to provide help to the public in choosing safely and avoiding rogues. In the absence of ‘official’ inspection CIFE set up its own independent inspectorate to visit member colleges, to promote best practice and to deal with any failings. CIFE retained its own inspectorate until the British Accreditation Council
was founded in 1984, with assistance from the Nuffield Foundation
. The BAC provided a comprehensive inspection scheme for all types of independent college, whether they prepared students for university entrance or for more vocational courses
.
Since 1984 CIFE’s role has emphasised the provision of professional support to its member colleges, particularly in collective marketing, and in providing an advice service to the public to help with questions about courses, university entrance etc.
than on exam results. What they all had in common was an emphasis on small-group teaching of students aged 16 or more. Those first CIFE members were:
Since that time the face of Further education
has changed considerably. Exams are different, and university entrance is an almost universal aim rather than the reserve of the very academic. Regulation, though providing a safeguard against incompetent practice, has made it less easy for small innovative colleges to survive, and a number of those early members have disappeared (Kirby Lodge, Greylands College for instance). Over the past 25 years new colleges have started and old ones have diversified. Some such as Concord
and Padworth
have become mainstream schools, and others have specialised (for instance St Clare’s which now teaches IB courses, and Basil Paterson which is now an EFL college). Bales, Cambridge Tutors and DLD are still CIFE members.
The ‘finishing school’ has gone, and ‘cramming’ evolved into a ‘liberal’ small group teaching format with an emphasis on individual attention and exam technique which has proved both attractive and successful not just within CIFE colleges but in a much wider range of schools: sixth-form teaching in most independent schools is now much closer to the CIFE-college model than was the case in the 1970s and '80s. Crammers became tutorial colleges and now ‘independent sixth-form colleges’.
CIFE colleges have also been pathfinders in opening up overseas markets with courses tailored towards university entrance. The recruitment of pre-university students from Malaysia, Vietnam and China was pioneered by CIFE colleges.
s have become more flexible and student-centred over the years, independent sixth-form colleges retain a range of distinctive qualities:
or the Independent Schools Inspectorate
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
colleges. It provides support to its member institutions and advice about GCE Advanced Level and university entrance to anyone who asks for it. CIFE’s President is Baroness Perry of Southwark
History
CIFE began in 1973, as the Conference for Independent Further Education. Independent Further Education was a catch-all term which described fee-paying institutions which, though they taught the final stages of a pre-university curriculum, did not include enough pupils younger than 16 to be classified as a school. In 1973 the Department for EducationDepartment for Education
The Department for Education is a department of the UK government responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education....
decided that it was no longer willing to inspect such ‘educational establishments’, leaving that sector of education provision unchecked.
CIFE was founded by a group of colleges which felt that some form of inspection was essential to provide help to the public in choosing safely and avoiding rogues. In the absence of ‘official’ inspection CIFE set up its own independent inspectorate to visit member colleges, to promote best practice and to deal with any failings. CIFE retained its own inspectorate until the British Accreditation Council
British Accreditation Council
The British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education is an educational accreditation agency recognised by the British Government for international students entering the United Kingdom for educational purposes....
was founded in 1984, with assistance from the Nuffield Foundation
Nuffield Foundation
The Nuffield Foundation is a British charitable trust, established in 1943 by William Morris , the founder of the Morris Motor Company. Lord Nuffield wanted to contribute to improvements in society, including the expansion of education and the alleviation of disadvantage...
. The BAC provided a comprehensive inspection scheme for all types of independent college, whether they prepared students for university entrance or for more vocational courses
Vocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
.
Since 1984 CIFE’s role has emphasised the provision of professional support to its member colleges, particularly in collective marketing, and in providing an advice service to the public to help with questions about courses, university entrance etc.
Founding colleges
The founding members of CIFE were a diverse group of colleges. Some, like Davies Laing and Dick, were London-based ‘crammers’, direct descendants of old-fashioned colleges which emphasised no-frills exam preparation, while others, like Stake Farm and Kirby Lodge, were small boarding schools which placed more emphasis on ‘finishing’Finishing school
A finishing school is "a private school for girls that emphasises training in cultural and social activities." The name reflects that it follows on from ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience, with classes primarily on etiquette...
than on exam results. What they all had in common was an emphasis on small-group teaching of students aged 16 or more. Those first CIFE members were:
- Pax Hill Education Centre
- Stafford House Tutorial College
- Birmingham Tutorial College
- Kirby Lodge
- Greylands
- St Clare’s Hall
- Basil Paterson College
- Concord College
- Modern Tutorial College (now Bales College)
- Davies’s Hove
- Davies’s London
- Cambridge Tutors (now Cambridge Tutors College)
- Davies Laing and Dick (now DLD College)
- Queen’s Gate Palace Tutors
- Padworth
- Wood Tutorial College
Since that time the face of Further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
has changed considerably. Exams are different, and university entrance is an almost universal aim rather than the reserve of the very academic. Regulation, though providing a safeguard against incompetent practice, has made it less easy for small innovative colleges to survive, and a number of those early members have disappeared (Kirby Lodge, Greylands College for instance). Over the past 25 years new colleges have started and old ones have diversified. Some such as Concord
Concord College, UK
Concord College is an independent private co-educational international day/boarding school in Shropshire, England situated in the grounds of Acton Burnell Castle. The college admits students aged between 12 and 19; the majority of whom come from overseas...
and Padworth
Padworth College
Padworth College is an independent co-educational senior school at Padworth, between Burghfield Common and Tadley in the English county of Berkshire....
have become mainstream schools, and others have specialised (for instance St Clare’s which now teaches IB courses, and Basil Paterson which is now an EFL college). Bales, Cambridge Tutors and DLD are still CIFE members.
The ‘finishing school’ has gone, and ‘cramming’ evolved into a ‘liberal’ small group teaching format with an emphasis on individual attention and exam technique which has proved both attractive and successful not just within CIFE colleges but in a much wider range of schools: sixth-form teaching in most independent schools is now much closer to the CIFE-college model than was the case in the 1970s and '80s. Crammers became tutorial colleges and now ‘independent sixth-form colleges’.
CIFE colleges have also been pathfinders in opening up overseas markets with courses tailored towards university entrance. The recruitment of pre-university students from Malaysia, Vietnam and China was pioneered by CIFE colleges.
Current nature of CIFE colleges
Some colleges now cater primarily for students from abroad while others deal mainly with British citizens. Some have several hundred students, some fewer than 50. Some are primarily residential while others deal mostly with ‘day’ students. Some remain colleges which primarily prepare for exams but others provide a more complete environment for development. All teach in small groups with an emphasis on adapting to the individual rather than requiring conformity to a school ethos.Distinctive nature of independent sixth-form colleges
Although mainstream independent schoolIndependent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
s have become more flexible and student-centred over the years, independent sixth-form colleges retain a range of distinctive qualities:
- Because most of their students are 16+, their staff have special expertise in sixth-form teaching and exam preparation
- They generally offer a wide range of subjects – over 30 A levels is very common, and they offer timetables with few (if any) restrictions on subject combinations
- Most offer specialist courses in addition to A-levels over two years:
- one-year A-level and GCSE,
- exam retake,
- final-year A-level,
- university foundation
- Easter revision
- English as second language
- Students tend to be treated as young adults rather than children
Inspection
The Department of Education eventually resumed inspection of independent sixth-form colleges in 2004. It is currently a requirement of membership that CIFE colleges undergo regular inspection by the BAC, or OfstedOfsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
or the Independent Schools Inspectorate
Independent Schools Inspectorate
The Independent Schools Inspectorate is an organisation responsible for the inspection of independent schools in England which are affiliated to the Independent Schools Council . The Inspectorate is a separate company, owned by the Independent Schools Council and has its work monitored by the...
Current CIFE members
In summer 2011 the following were CIFE members- Ashbourne CollegeAshbourne CollegeAshbourne College is an independent sixth form college in Kensington, London.-External links:*...
- Bath Academy
- Bales College
- Bosworth Independent College
- Brooke House College
- Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form StudiesCambridge Centre for Sixth-form StudiesCambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies is an independent sixth form college located on Station Road off Hills Road in central Cambridge, England.The college offers GCSE and GCE courses...
- Cambridge Tutors CollegeCambridge Tutors CollegeCambridge Tutors Collegeis an A-level crammer situated in Croydon UK. Founded in 1958 as a tutorial centre to help boys in preparation for their common entrance exam, it has expanded into a successful international sixth form college...
- Chelsea Independent CollegeChelsea Independent CollegeChelsea Independent College is an independent sixth form college situated in Fulham in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, England.Chelsea Independent College provides A level and GCSE courses for students aged 14 to 21 whose primary aim is to progress to Higher Education .The college...
- Collingham CollegeCollingham CollegeCollingham College is an independent, co-educational GCSE and sixth form college, which was founded as Collingham Tutors in 1975 by John Marsden and Nicholas Browne. Collingham is situated in London's Earls Court area...
- DLD College
- Duff Miller Sixth-form College
- Exeter Tutorial CollegeExeter Tutorial CollegeExeter Tutorial College is a small independent college in Exeter. The College was founded in 1984 and now offers any combination of AS and A level subjects over one or two years, GCSEs and English for overseas students....
- Harrogate Tutorial CollegeHarrogate Tutorial CollegeHarrogate Tutorial College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England is a small co-educational independent school.HTC specialises in preparing students for university and teaches GCSE and A-level qualifications in tutorial classes...
- Lansdowne CollegeLansdowne CollegeLansdowne College is an independent sixth form college situated in Bayswater in the London Borough of Westminster, England. Lansdowne is registered as a private school with the DfE and is inspected by OFSTED...
- MPW Birmingham
- MPW LondonMander Portman Woodward VI form collegesMander Portman Woodward is an independent sixth form college groups in England, with colleges in London, Birmingham and Cambridge. The school was formed in its current structure in 1973 by Robert Woodward, Rodney Portman and Nicholas Mander. The major strength of MPW is the small group sizes ,...
- Oxford Tutorial College