In addition to the money already given for this year’s education budget an extra £250 million has been given in the budget – equating to 54,000 places for students. The money more than makes up for the shortfall caused by calculations by the Learning and Skills Council.
Also there’s £400m for schools and colleges, to fund sixth form places for 2010/11 which is also intended to cover any increased demand for places.
What’s more there’s an additional £300m of capital funding for investment in further education colleges. This will enable the LSC to fund a limited number of further projects through the Building Colleges for the Future programme starting in 2009/10.
John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “I am very pleased that the chancellor made the decision to allocate additional funding for post-16 places. This more than covers the projected shortfall for next year. Schools and colleges will be able to give places to all the students they have recruited and allocate some additional places for this September.”
Martin Doel, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, described Alistair Darling’s Budget as “excellent news”.
He said: “This is a positive move too in terms of tackling youth unemployment. We are pleased that government has recognised the critical importance of funding 16-18 education adequately, particularly in such economically troubled times and as government prepares to extend the leaving age.”
Tony
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