ABSTRACT
In Further Education (FE) and tertiary colleges the presence of a large number of mature students sets the pattern of student freedom and responsibility and leads to the expectation that the 16-19 age group will conform to adult patterns of behaviour. College-style amenities, relationships and freedoms are combined with a familial environment in which it is hoped students will experience a strong sense of belonging and receive support from staff who know them really well. Teachers, perhaps more than parents, see the 16-19 stage as one in which teenagers can accept a major share of responsibility for their own learning and personal development. The trend towards greater student autonomy and responsibility has significant implications for the way in which an educational community functions. Sixth form lifestyles have undergone great changes in recent years as schools have responded to the need to release their older students from much of the staff direction and supervision that apply to younger pupils.
