Council vows to fill Bracknell sixth form funding gap
In total, four of the Bracknell six secondary schools in the borough between them will be £122,000 worse off this year due to the Government's funding allocation for sixth form places in September.
At a meeting of the council on Wednesday, April 15, Cllr Alan Ward, executive member for finance, resources and assets, said that he and the council's officers will be looking at options to help meet this funding gap and ensure that no Bracknell Forest student misses out on a sixth form place.
Cllr Ward said: "We are very disappointed the Government has not calculated for an increase in applications for sixth form places and has therefore instructed the Learning and Skills Council to fund them at a lower level per head.
"This comes at a particularly difficult time when applications are up for post-16 education because young people want to improve their skills and qualifications to help them get a job during the recession. By helping young people to remain in education the council is contributing to its new medium term objective of supporting people during the recession.
"The council will do everything it can to ensure the funding shortfall is filled and that those who are eligible for a sixth form place do not miss out and that they get the education they need and deserve.”
A report on how the council will fund this will be brought back to the executive for approval in the next few weeks.
Bracknell Forest Council
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