Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), published in November 2004, states that all young people should be "successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors to society and at work". These are commonly referred to as the 4 capacities of CfE. CfE also recommends that the curriculum should be designed using the principles of challenge and enjoyment, breadth, progression, depth, personalisation and choice, coherence and, relevance". The senior phase of CfE refers to ages 15 to 18 years and is the period when young people can build a portfolio of qualifications, and develop skills for learning, life and work . For many young people, the senior phase is undertaken almost entirely within a secondary school setting. However, increasing numbers of learners in this age group are choosing to undertake their senior phase wholly or partly within a college setting. Colleges are required to embed the senior phase entitlements within programmes. Full-time learning opportunities in colleges therefore must also embed the senior phase entitlements. The 'Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce' in its report "Developing the Young Workforce (DYW)" June 2014 , made the following recommendations to Scottish Government: (1) Pathways should start in the senior phase which lead to industry recognised vocational qualifications (recommendation 1); (2) A focus on preparing all young people for employment should form a core element of the implementation of CfE (recommendation 2); and (3) Scotland should embed equality education across CfE (recommendation 26). This report evaluates how well these recommendations are being supported within the college sector through answering the following high level questions: (1) How well are 16-18 years olds being prepared for transition to vocational education and training through effective senior phase planning? (2) How well do full-time college programmes provide 16-18 years olds with senior phase entitlements? and (3) How well is equality and diversity being embedded across senior phase programmes in colleges?