Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to review the funding of sixth form colleges.

My right hon. Friend, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced on 31 August 2019 that the government will invest an extra £400 million in 16-19 education in 2020-21. This represents an increase of 7% in overall 16 to 19 funding. This is the biggest injection of new money in a single year since 2010, with funding increasing faster for 16-19 than in 5-16 schooling. As part of this, the base rate of funding for all types of providers, including sixth form colleges, will be increased by 4.7% in academic year 2020-21, from £4,000 to £4,188.

As in 2019-20, the Department will meet the full cost of additional pensions’ payments for further education in 2020-21 and this is additional funding on top of the £400 million announcement.

Funding for 2021-22 onwards will be considered in the full Spending Review next year.