A 2002 staff satisfaction survey was administered to 100 sixth form colleges, general further education colleges, and beacon and specialist colleges in England. A questionnaire containing 38 positive statements concerning 6 broad areas one's own role; the staff of the college; style of senior management; communication; customers, including learners, employers, and community groups; and college was rated with a 5-point scale by nearly 13,000 respondents. Results suggested that intrinsic job satisfaction is primarily influenced by factors directly related to the education and care of learners rather than to matters concerning college management, systems and structures that were the focus of the survey. However, these two broad areas of staff perception seemed to determine the overall balance of respondents' opinions: (1) whether or not they were valued by their employers and felt secure in their positions, and (2) how effectively they were communicated with, consulted and involved in the decision-making process. Where staff indicated satisfaction with these areas, they usually took a positive view of other aspects of their job and their college, and where they indicated dissatisfaction with them, they did not. (Contains 2 appendices, 19 figures, and 4 references.) (MO)