Recommendation 55

It is crucial that the Government increases per-student funding across all post-16 funding streams, based on a detailed assessment of need. We welcome the Chancellor’s pledge of £1.2 billion a year for the further education sector, which will see the overall budget rise by £400 million (in today’s prices) between 2025–26 and 2028–29. However, the Government must ensure this extra funding is sufficient to meet the needs of this crucial sector which has suffered long-term underfunding. Increased funding should be adjusted annually for inflation and for the rise in FE student numbers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 205)