SIXTH Form Colleges ‘cannot survive on starvation rations.’ One third say that they will go bust and shut down by 2020 if the massive funding cuts continue.
Already science and language courses are being axed in Sixth Form Colleges up and down the country as the cuts begin to bite. The Sixth Form Colleges Association sent online questionnaires to all 93 colleges; 72 responded and of these 26 said they feared that funding cuts meant that in the near future they would cease to exist.
David Igoe Chief Executive of The Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) said: ‘The future is quite bleak, we think. It looks like sixth form colleges are a sector in serious decline. They may even be squeezed out of the system altogether. Sixth form colleges have had their budgets cut year on year since 2010, for some their funding has even been cut by a third and that has been pretty devastating as you can imagine.’
National Union of Teachers Deputy General Secretary Kevin Courtney said: ‘NUT surveys have shown that funding cuts since 2010 have already led 75% of colleges to cut courses or cut teaching time for students. The Conservatives’ plans for more cuts will further damage colleges’ ability to develop the skills of our young people.’
Sixth form colleges have faced deeper cuts to their budgets than any other group of institutions, the Association’s report said. A-levels in modern languages have been cut in 28 colleges (over a third), while 17 (just under a quarter) reported cuts in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects.
68 out of 72 said they were ‘concerned’ or ‘extremely concerned’ about their financial health.
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said: ‘Once again we see the stark reality of the government’s economic austerity policy and deregulation which is impacting adversely on the provision of vital public services. The evidence published Tuesday by the Sixth Form Colleges Association confirms that many colleges are facing a bleak future despite the excellent standards of education they provide.
‘Investment in education and training for 16-19 year olds is vital to the country’s economic future.
‘If the UK is to compete in the global race, we simply cannot afford to see the scale of cuts to sixth form college provision that is predicted. All young people, regardless of where they happen to study, should be entitled to have access to a broad curriculum offer.
‘It is extremely disappointing that the range of courses on offer in sixth form colleges is being reduced and that opportunities available for young people are being narrowed as a result of the government’s policies for schools and colleges. The government has to recognise that a common funding system for schools and colleges requires there to be a level playing field.
‘Tuesday’s report demonstrates the need for the Government to take steps urgently to address the additional cost pressures that exist in sixth form colleges. Sixth form colleges provide study opportunities for many thousands of young people, often where no other provision is available. The reduction of course provision in colleges will mean the loss of life-changing opportunities for students. It will also mean a loss of specialist teachers and lecturers to the service. This can only be damaging for our young people. Young people deserve better.’
Nansi Ellis, assistant general secretary at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said: ‘The findings of the Sixth Form Colleges Association’s survey are very worrying. The government’s funding cuts to education for young people over age 16 are severely damaging opportunities for them to access high quality education.
‘Forcing sixth form colleges to withdraw courses in modern languages and STEM subjects is illogical at a time when employers are desperate for entrants with these skills and knowledge. How can the government seriously expect economic growth over the next five years without funding post-16 education in these vital areas?
‘Unfortunately the future for sixth form colleges looks bleak. We are worried that few will survive the government imposed “Review of post-16 Education and Training Institutions” to take place between now and 2017. The government’s desire for “fewer, often larger” post-16 providers, set out in the review document, is likely to lead to even more restrictions on young people’s ability to improve their life chances through education.’