Long-term funding needed for new further education plans

The Social Mobility Commission wants the government to commit to extra long-term funding to ensure schools and colleges can plan for the long term, in response to the government's new Skills for Jobs White Paper.

The Commission welcomed many of the plans, such as making technical qualifications a valuable alternative to a university degree, and the government’s decision to commit to a lifetime skills guarantee, but warned that "extra long-term resources will be key to the success of these schemes".

Alastair Da Costa, Commisionner for Adult Skills and Further Education: "They cannot just be a sticking plaster to address the immediate devastating impact of COVID on jobs and training.

“They need be fully funded as part of a multi-year financial settlement for FE allowing colleges and young people to plan for the future. The commission has long campaigned for a student premium for those aged 16-19 which would particularly help disadvantaged students and calls on the government to commit to this in its next spending settlement."

Alastair Da Costa added: “We would also have liked more focus on students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds who receive the least training as adults and face more barriers than most.

“We are concerned too that those from poorer backgrounds find it more difficult to access higher levels of vocational qualifications and T levels and this still needs to be addressed."