Catch up funding for 16-19 year old pupils

That this House deplores the decision to exclude providers of 16-19 education from the Government’s catch-up funding for students after the covid-19 outbreak, notes that 16-19 year olds have missed out on months of their education at a crucial juncture where they would have been sitting exams and preparing to move into higher education, other training or entering the job market; further notes that for those nearing the end of their school career there is very limited time to catch up on the studies they have missed and as such those young people could find their future education, training and job opportunities permanently affected; and calls on the Government to urgently commit to providing catch-up funding for 16-19 education settings at the same level as is being provided for pupils in primary and secondary schools.