FUNDING FOR SIXTH FORM COLLEGES

That this House notes with great concern the report by London Economics which highlights the effects of the Government's freeze on sixth form funding combined with increases in running costs; further notes that in order to increase student services for physical and mental health, protect minority subjects such as modern languages from being dropped and increase extra­curricular activities such as work experience and university visits the report states that sixth form colleges will need an increase in funding of at least £760 per student by 2020-21; expresses deep regret that funding declined by 22 per cent during the period between 2010-11 and 2016-17, resulting in a decrease in teaching staff of 15 per cent while in the same period student numbers have increased by six per cent; and calls on the Government to address this unacceptable funding problem as a matter of urgency.