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Funding gap between schools and colleges grows

Funding gap between schools and colleges grows

Education unions have demanded action over the growing gap in funding between schools and colleges.

Colleges receive at least 13 per cent less for every student than schools providing the same courses, according to a new report by the Learning and Skills Development Agency.

The government had previously claimed it was dealing with the gap in funding.

The Association of Colleges (AoC), the National Union of Students (NUS) and Secondary Heads Association (SHA) say the report means the government must act now to deal with the discrepancy.

AoC chief executive Dr John Brennan said the report reflected the “true extent” of inequality between schools and colleges and it was now time to “remedy this long-standing injustice”.

John Dunford, general secretary of the SHA, said the country should focus on the 14-19 age group and this could only be done “through both schools and colleges”.