The government’s catch-up funding for 16- to 18-year-olds should be extended beyond next year, the Association of Colleges has urged.
In a paper setting out the college sector’s priorities for the forthcoming comprehensive spending review, the AoC said swift Treasury and Department for Education action had allowed colleges to continue operating remotely during the coronavirus lockdown and to open fully in September, “but the pandemic continues and there are some gaps that should be filled”.
The AoC said the Treasury and DfE had already provided £96 million to help 16- to 18-year-olds catch up as part of a £1 billion package, “but this will take more than a year and will require intense support to re-engage learners, to support attendance and to develop wellbeing. Colleges are also finding they need many more laptops and devices to support a blended education model.”
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The organisation called for an extension of the 16-18 catch-up funding for a year “so that support for disadvantaged young people does not simply stop next summer”. Actions to directly support young people should also include extending the laptop scheme to cover colleges in 2020-21.
Vulnerable apprentices
The AoC added that many apprentices were vulnerable to redundancy and many of those who complete and progress will not be replaced by new starters because of the difficult circumstances facing their employers. Extending the apprenticeship employer incentive (due to cease in January 2021) for the rest of the year, as well as introducing an enhancement for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and introducing a progression bonus for any employer who recruits a kickstarter or trainee onto an apprenticeship could help tackle this, according to the AoC.
It added that, along with the spending review, the upcoming FE White Paper offered a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the government to place colleges at the heart of our society and economy for the recovery and beyond. The AoC called for a “plan for skills”, building on this year’s plan for jobs; immediate action to close the digital poverty divide and a stronger support package for students leaving education; and a long-term further education strategy, with college business centres supporting employers through expert advice and delivery on skills.
David Hughes, AoC chief executive, said: “The chancellor has made bold decisions with his jobs and business support schemes, which were important in the early stages of the pandemic. What we are asking for now is ambitious actions, resolve and investment in our people to help rebuild and renew the economy.
Our proposals for a skills-led recovery ensure no one is left behind and training and reskilling opportunities are in sync with growth sectors like health, construction, digital and the green economy. Now is the time to enable colleges to support the economy, people and communities to get the country back on its feet.”
