The Council for Independent EducationBriefing NotesCIFE began in 1973 - PDF document

1 1 CIFE The Council for Independent
1 CIFE The Council for Independent EducationBriefing NotesCIFE began in 1973, as the Conference for Independent Further Education. Independent Further Education was a catchall term which described fee ��2 &#x/MCI; 0 ;&#x/MCI; 0 ;Since that time the face of Further educationhas 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 Concordand Padworthhave become mainstream schools, and others have specialised (for instance St Clare’swhich now teaches courses, and Basil Paterson which is now an EFLcollege). 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: sixthform teaching in

2 most independent schools is now much clo
most independent schools is now much closer to the CIFEcollege model than was the case in the 1970s and '80s. Crammers became tutorial colleges and now ‘independent sixthform colleges’.CIFE colleges have also been pathfinders in opening up overseas markets with courses tailored towards university entrance. The recruitment of preuniversity students from Malaysia, Vietnam and China was pioneered by CIFE colleges.Current nature of CIFE collegesSome 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 mostlywith ‘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 sixthform collegesAlthough mainstream independent schoolshave become more flexible and studentcentred over the years, independent sixthform collegessuch as those in CIFE retaina range of distinctive qualities:Because most of their students are 16+, their staff have special expertise in sixthform teaching and exam preparationand Students tend to be treated as

3 young adults;They generally offer a wid
young adults;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 combinationsMost offer specialist courses in addition to Alevels over two years. These includeoneyear Alevel and GCSEshort exam retake(up to January 2013)finalyear Alevel,university foundationEaster revisionEnglish as second languageMore information is available on the CIFE website (www.cife.org.uk) ��3 &#x/MCI; 0 ;&#x/MCI; 0 ;InspectionThe Department of Education eventually resumed inspection of independent sixthform colleges in 2004. It is currently a requirement of membership that CIFE colleges undergo regular inspection by the BAC, or Ofstedor the Independent Schools InspectorateCurrent CIFE membersIn June 201the following were CIFE members:Ashbourne College, LondonBath AcademyBales College, LondonBosworth Independent College, NorthamptonBrooke House College, Market HarboroughCambridge Centre for Sixthform StudiesCambridge Tutors College, LondonCarfax Tutorial Establishment, OxfordChelsea Independent CollegeCollingham College, LondonDLDCollegeMPW BirminghamMPW LondonOxford International CollegeOxford Tutorial CollegeCIFE Presidents19751982Brian Rees19831994Lord Beloff19952002 Sir Eric Ash20022013Lady Perry2013 Lord Lexden CIFEstudents&

4 #146;achievementsThe achievements of stu
#146;achievementsThe achievements of students attending CIFE colleges are considerable. They are recognised each year at an annual awards ceremony held at the House of Lords. In , in addition to an overall prize awarded by each college to its most deserving student,a total of 2academic awards were made, rewarding excellence in areas such as mathematics, science, literature and the humanities. The awards recognise the achievements of the previous summer’s examination cohorts. In the summer of 201, the top 20 university destinations of CIFE students were as follows: 4 1 M a n c h e s t e r 2 U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e L o n d o n 3 C i t y 4 K i n g ’ s C o l l e g e L o n d o n 5 Queen Mary London 6 Bristol 7 Exeter 8 = C o v e n t r y 8 = Westminster 10 Oxford Brookes 1 1 = N e w c a s t l e 1 1 = Royal Holloway 13 = L e e d s 1 3 = N o t t i n g h a m 1 5 W a r wi ck 1 6 B r i g h t o n 1 7 L e i c e s t e r 1 7 = S h e f f i e l d 19 = B i r m i n g h a m 1 Crdiff 1 9 = U n i v e r s i t y o f t he A rt s Overall CIFE destinations 4 5 % To a Russell Group University 2 3 % To one of Top 10 in Complete University Guide table 5 To one of Top0 in Complete University Guide table July 2