Sixth Form Colleges

HC Deb 23 July 2002 vol 389 c987W

Bob Russell

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much of the additional funding in the spending review will be allocated to sixth form colleges; and when she expects funding for sixth form colleges to be increased to match the level allocated to sixth forms in schools. [71606]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

As a result of the spending review, the core unit of funding per full-time equivalent student for further education colleges will increase 1 per cent. in real terms in each of the next three years in return for improved outcomes from colleges. We will be agreeing new improvement targets with colleges to make sure we maximise the return on these resources. We are now considering further the outcome of the spending review and other decisions on allocations, including to further education, will be announced in the autumn. We remain committed to bringing up the level of funding for colleges towards that of school sixth forms. This will take time and can be done only as resources allow.