CIFE, the Council for Independent Education, is the professional body that represents independent sixth-form colleges. Independent sixth-form colleges – that is, colleges specialising in post-16 education – do not have to belong to CIFE, but many of the successful and reputable ones do because they wish to ensure that the quality and standards that they achieve are maintained and improved. CIFE was formed nearly thirty years ago by a number of prominent colleges who wished to share ideas and to set up an inspection system so that parents and students had an assurance of quality.

What does membership of CIFE mean to the colleges that belong to the organisation? The Principal of a London tutorial college explains: “When I took over the running of my college, I decided to apply for membership of CIFE because I knew that CIFE would help me to drive up standards. Our exam results were excellent and we provided good support for our students both academically and on a personal level, but I felt that we were not getting enough support in keeping up to date with the ever-changing world of education. I was delighted that we passed the inspections and checks necessary for membership because, in addition to the feedback that I get from other CIFE colleges, the support we have been given by other colleges has allowed us to deliver a better service to our students and has enabled us to plan ahead more effectively, giving our students an advantage that their friends in other colleges do not receive.”

Another CIFE college Principal, who runs a college in Oxford, has different reasons for belonging to CIFE: “With such a wide range of colleges offering AS and A levels, parents are faced with a bewildering choice, and they often need reassurance about the colleges that they are considering for their sons or daughters. Members of CIFE have their examination results stringently audited and we are not allowed to publish any examination statistics unless they have been through this audit. Parents know that they can ask for sets of results and that the results that they are given have been thoroughly checked and verified – it's like having the AA check a car before you buy it! CIFE membership also means that my college is inspected regularly to ensure that what we provide for our students – including things that relate to their health, safety, pastoral care, accommodation, teaching and general well-being – is of a high standard. As well as being reassuring to prospective parents and students, it also means that I can be confident that what we are doing is of a high quality.”

Baroness Perry, President of CIFE, speaks of the difficulties that parents face in choosing the right sixth form for their children. “It is not enough just to know that one institution gets good results; it is also essential that the college or school is one able to meet the very special and individual learning style and needs of each different young person”, explained Baroness Perry. “Small classes and programmes designed around each individual are a feature of all members of CIFE, ensuring that every young person has the maximum chance to find their own ideal programme and method of learning. The adult atmosphere and the ethos of respect for hard work and high standards also help to encourage each student to aim high and achieve the best possible results.”

CIFE’s Secretary deals with numerous enquiries from parents who are looking for schools or colleges for their children who wish to move from more traditional schools to an environment that is more geared towards individual needs. “There are many reasons why students may want a change. In some cases, it is the option of more flexibility in the way that they study and a wider range of subjects on offer at AS level, A level or the International Baccalaureat; for others it is a chance to be able to study in places where they are treated like adults and where they can choose whether to take part in extra-curricular activities; and for others it is an opportunity to recover from disappointing exam results. Whatever the reason, what I can offer them is reassurance and sensible advice.”

CIFE colleges come in many shapes and sizes, from small city-based establishments to large boarding schools, from colleges offering full two-year A level and GCSE programmes to A level retake specialists: what they have in common is an emphasis on the individual and an enviable reputation for getting the best out of their students.

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