Seven organisations representing sixth forms, colleges and
students have written to Chancellor calling for urgent action
over the severe underfunding of 16-19 education.
Their letter, written as part of the Support Our Sixth-formers
campaign, says that without further investment, there will be
more cuts to courses, class sizes will continue to increase, and
school sixth forms in rural areas will simply disappear.
They urge the Chancellor in his Budget on 22 November to support
an increase of ??200 per student. This measure would cost an
estimated ??244 million per year to implement, more than half of
which can be found from the underspend in the existing 16-19
budget.
The letter can be read
here.
The seven organisations are: the National Union of Students
(NUS); Freedom and Autonomy for Schools ??? National Association
(FASNA); the National Governance Association (NGA), the Grammar
School Heads??? Association (GSHA); the Sixth Form Colleges
Association (SFCA); the Association of School and College Leaders
(ASCL); and the Association of Colleges (AoC);
Emily Chapman, NUS Vice President (Further Education)
said: ???Sixth forms and colleges give young people
opportunities to change their life. Yet this vital part of the
education system is consistently ignored and chronically
underfunded. It???s about time the Government recognised the
transformative power of further education and adequately invested
in our young people.???
GSHA Chief Executive Jim Skinner said: ???There is an urgent
need for further investment to ensure sixth form students have
access to the full range of courses, including in STEM subjects
and languages. The increase we are requesting is modest, but is
essential if the needs of our students and the country are to be
met.???
Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges
Association, said: ???This modest increase in
funding is affordable and will help to ensure that every sixth
form student in England receives the sort of high quality,
rounded educational experience they deserve. It will also help to
boost social mobility, improve the career choices that students
make, and ensure that young people possess the skills required to
flourish in the workplace.???
Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and
College Leaders, said: ???The investment we are calling
for is very small in terms of national spending. But it will make
a huge difference to sixth forms, colleges and students. It is a
lifeline for sixth forms at risk of closure and will save more
courses from being scrapped. It is surely a small price to pay to
protect this crucial phase of education.???
David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges,
said: ???Our young people are being short-changed
compared with their counterparts in other countries and compared
with previous generations. The hours of teaching and support, the
choice they have and the enrichment they are offered have all
reduced as funding cuts have bitten. This cannot continue if we
are to secure the future of our nation.???
