Independent learning and independent learning strategies are at present significant topics in educational research. The bulk of this research deals with independent learning in junior and higher education with little based upon the further education sector. The focus of this article is the interpretation of independent learning by 16- to 19-year-old students at a further education tertiary college. This article reports the interpretations of students of independent learning and offers explanations and reasons for these interpretations that exist in academic and vocational students. The research used a case study methodology employing a mixture of questionnaires and interviews. Data collected from staff interviews were used to structure a student focus group, whilst data collected from the student questionnaire were used to structure the staff questionnaire in both cases allowing feedback and the cross analysis of data between staff and students. (Contains 15 tables.)