Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the 5.5% pay award for teachers in academized sixth forms to non-academized colleges.

Unlike 16-19 academies, sixth form colleges are part of the statutory further education (FE) sector.

The department does not set or recommend pay in FE providers, which have the freedom to make their own arrangements in line with their local circumstances.

We recognise the vital role that FE teachers and providers play in equipping learners with the opportunities and skills that they need to succeed in their education.

The October Budget set out the government’s commitment to skills, by providing an additional £300 million revenue funding for FE to ensure young people are developing the skills this country needs. The department will set out in due course how this funding will be distributed.