FE colleges that do A levels - term times

[RainyDayCoffee]

DD is at a FE college that recently started doing A levels 2 years ago. They seem to have really short term times.
Summer break of nearly 10 weeks, 2 weeks off in October, nearly 3 weeks in December. Other than that they seem to be closed for few days when GCSEs are on as they offer resits.
I know schools that do A levels have much longer terms.
Does anyone have idea if colleges are not bound by the same term times as schools?
Xx

My DD is at a 6th form college and broke up on 24th June for summer, goes back next Monday. Other than that her holidays were same as schools

I don't think they are bound, and they have different admissions rules etc.

However they tend to have longer hours than schools so I assume they can fit the teaching in just fine without needing longer terms.

The past few years we have holidayed early July which is great.

Ours closed around 20th June and doesn't go back until 10th. Even the 10th is an induction day so I suspect won't be the full day. No idea why 2nd year of A levels need induction

@TeenToTwenties true...DDs lessons are much longer than her lessons at school were.

Ours have quite a few extra days off. Ironically DD chose it partly for having more contact hours (per week).

I would hope they have a minimum number of contact hours they need to deliver over the year to get the funding, but I don't know. It is certainly less than when I was at school 6th form.

Their standard day runs until 4pm though.

My eldest did a levels at an FE college, youngest starts at the same college tomorrow. They both have 5 hrs of classes per subject/week plus 1 hr tutor. Wednesday entirely off, and the year ends third week in June. There was a week of no lessons when Y13 had mocks as well!
DS2s timetable is a bit gappy, 4 hrs free in the middle of one day. But he chose it for the 4 day week and shorter term so will have to lump the gaps, and longer day - two of his days he has a 9am start and 4.30 finish (with big gaps in the middle). He didn't want 6th form where the students have to be in for 8.45 daily and stay studying in 6th form block until at least post lunch break, lessons or no.

What’s your issue? I mean it’s not like you have to arrange childcare and it gives them more opportunity to get a job.

@unsurewhattodoaboutit
I wasn't complaining, I just wanted to know if this is common across FE colleges doing A levels. Most are geared towards diplomas, Btech etc and not A levels. Our college is also new to A levels so wasn't sure if this was the norm.
Having said that the large timetable gaps and especially the afternoon starts for one subject that day are not ideal for the not so motivated students which mine certainly is. Having said that, it's my problem and not the colleges and again I am not complaining.

Both mine went to a large FE college for A levels. The 2nd year students go back later than the 1st years to allow them a 3 day induction then they have two weeks in October because that’s becoming more common in the local area and a lot of schools do that. But then Christmas, Feb half term, Easter and May half term were the same. The BTec students in the first year finished mid June and A levels early July. After that the college usually runs a few days for Y11 students to come in and try out subjects.

Most of the 16yos round here go to FE colleges rather than 6th forms of secondary schools and shorter terms, particularly in the summer, seem commonplace.