This year’s maths question for college students. Minus £1.6 billion over four years from £7.6 billion annual spending for 16-19 year olds further education. What are you left with?
In the run up to next week’s highly anticipated Spending Review, this is the very real question facing 2.9 million young people in education and skills training across the UK.
A report from the National Audit Office this year, revealed funding to further education has been cut by 4% and in decline since 2010, with the sector falling into deficit for the first time in 2013. This has put unforeseen pressures on colleges and sixth forms already to find savings.
As a county we are already struggling for fairer schools funding. Suffolk’s funding allocation for further education per pupil is just £4,260, falling short of the regional and national average. The outstanding West Suffolk College in my constituency delivers a first class, A-Grade education for students; under budget but exceeding all expectations.
That is why, this week in the Chamber I called on the Government to look carefully at potential cuts to the further education budget. Using the example of West Suffolk College, an exemplar of the Government’s further education ambitions, I highlighted the need for funding and the need for certainty over funding.
The college works with local companies large and small, including Greene King and British Sugar, to deliver skills and apprenticeship training to students. In turn, this bolsters and strengthens the region’s economy. Only recently, West Suffolk College struck a seven million pound deal with the Local Enterprise Partnerships, to deliver a Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) Centre.
I reminded the Minister of the commitment he made only in September, for an entrepreneurial approach to further education, enabling colleges to become more efficient and autonomous of state funding. I too believe that collaboration between our teachers, businesses and community leaders will offer the best education to all students. This will also drive forward innovating teaching and learning.
However, asking colleges and sixth forms across the UK, to see through the Government’s ambitious plans whilst risking a further loss of essential funding is unattainable and sends the wrong message to further education forums. We must offer colleges the means to deliver their own system away from government dependency. We must fund them now to prepare them for the future.
So, as the Chancellor finalises the Government’s spending plan for the next five years, I just hope he’s done the maths.