The Department for Education has announced that there is to be a significant funding increase to support 16-19 education, helping to ensure that students can continue to access high-quality education and progress their careers.
Increased funding will see £125 million being allocated to schools, colleges and other places that provide education for 16-19 year olds. This will be done through 2023 and 2024.
The impact of the funding will ensure that:
- A increase to the he national funding rate for students aged 16-17 and students aged 18 and over with high needs, by 2.2% to £4,642. Alongside this, funding will continue to be provided for an extra 40 hours per student to support them catching up on time that they lost due to the pandemic and lockdowns.
- Funding rates for engineering, construction, and digital subjects will increase, to help education providers with the additional costs of recruiting and retaining teachers. This will help young people benefit from improved teaching
Robert Halfon, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships an Higher Education, said:
“Our ambition is to transform young people’s life chances by giving them the chance to climb the education and skills ladder of opportunity.
“That is why we are investing in resources and skills qualifications that will offer more learning for students and access to high-quality qualifications including T Levels, A Levels and technical qualifications. ”
This increase in funding will mean that young people, no matter their background or location, are able to access the courses and qualifications that they may need to ensure that they succeed in their desired careers. T Levels and A Levels are included in this, helping to meet the future skills needs of business and the economy whilst also indirectly supporting the governments aim of improving opportunities for less fortunate communities through levelling up.
