The future of young Londoners from disadvantaged backgrounds could be adversely affected by a major funding cut to further education budgets, London Councils is warning.
The organisation, which represents all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, is concerned that the government’s decision to cut funding for all full-time 18-year-old students by 17.5 per cent will have a damaging impact on programmes of study for young people who need more time to study or train.
London has more 18-year-old learners than any other part of the country (1), but from September, providers will be facing a potential budget cut for this group of tens of thousands of pounds (2).
Councillor Peter John, Executive member for young people, skills and employment, said: “With youth unemployment in London higher than the national average (3), we need to be doing all we can to support and encourage young people to make the best choices.
“This reduction in funding for 18-year-old students will have serious, unintended consequences for young Londoners who need that extra helping hand to study or train.
“It is worrying for those young people who have dropped out of a course, and are looking to start their studies again in September.
“It will also put the development of structured three-year study programmes for post-16 students at risk. Yet these programmes are key to improving attainment and participation in education and training among school-leavers.
“I would urge the government to mitigate the impact of this funding cut, as they have indicated they may do (4). Otherwise, we believe it could have a detrimental effect on the educational attainment of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
Cathy Walsh, principal of Barking and Dagenham College and co-chair of the Association of Colleges (AoC) London Region, said: “ This decision seems to fly in the face of the government’s own aims to get more young people of this age to stay in education and training.
“We all understand the need to rein in public spending, but this cut is poorly targeted, under-researched and will have unintended consequences both for London’s over-stretched colleges and for some of their most vulnerable students.
"These students may have left school without a level 2 qualification or enrolled at college at 17 for reasons of ill-health, or found themselves on the wrong course at school following poor advice and guidance.
"They need more support, not less, if they’re to avoiding joining the ranks of those not in education, employment or training. AoC is calling on the government to reconsider this cut.”
Research conducted by London Councils with the Institute of Education on 17 year old participation, attainment and progression in London listed a number of ‘risk factors’ which led students to drop out or achieve poor grades (5).
It highlighted a lack of readiness for advanced learning especially among students who just creep over the five A* to C GCSE grade threshold, poor careers guidance in schools and permissive admissions policies for A level study in school sixth forms.
It also pointed out that young people who drop out in their first year of A levels, often go into vocational courses the following September in general FE colleges.
Among its recommendations were that education leaders invest in three-year post-16 study programmes to equip students for higher study and employment.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. An impact assessment by the Association of Colleges (AoC) found that more than 25 per cent of 16 to 18 year old full-time students in London were aged 18 at the start of the academic year. It also found that 18 year old learners were more likely to live in deprived areas and more likely to come from ethnic groups other than white.
2. FE providers could lose as much as £700 of funding per student for all 18 year olds.
3. Figures from June 2012 to June 2013, showed 25 per cent of young people in London aged 16 to 24 are unemployed. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 20.7 per cent. Figures from www.nomisweb.co.uk
4. The Secretary of State for Education confirmed in a letter on Monday 13 January to the chair of the Education committee that he would consider options to mitigate the impact of the funding change.
5. 'What is happening with 17+ participation, attainment and progression in London? Paper 1: Schools in London report' is available to view http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/policylobbying/children/education14to19/keydocuments.htm