Do 6th Form colleges have to follow Schools admission code?

[TeenAndTween]

I've been reading the thread on secondary regarding criteria for continuing to 6th form within a school, seeing opinions bat backwards and forwards.

But where I live (Hants) we have 6th form colleges.

I am wondering, do 6th form colleges (for A levels and/or vocational) have to follow the schools admission code?

In particular do they need to give priority to Looked After / Previously Looked After children?
Also are they allowed to use interviews / references? Or should these only be to help ensure suitable subjects are selected?

One of the experts here has kindly privately given me one opinion, but I am interested in hearing others in case they differ.

The Admissions Code applies to maintained schools. A sixth form college is classed as a Further Education establishment and, as such, is not subject to the Admissions Code. They are therefore not required to give priority to LAC and can use interviews and references.

Hello OP

I would add to the above that they are expected to be more mature imo.
Calling the tutors by first name. They can also opt out of parental involvement if they wish, unless the law changed with compulsory schooling until 18.

not that I've ever been aware of
as each of the colleges specialises and they only accept kids who are right for each course

remember, all the "catchments" overlap

Thanks all. 'twas what I suspected.

These colleges are not follow the schools system.