Funding boost for school leavers in Streatham
Record funding for sixth forms, colleges, training and apprenticeship places to ensure every school leaver in Streatham can stay on in learning during the recession has been announced this week.
The extra funding this year will ensure that every school leaver has a guaranteed place in school, college, training or an apprenticeship this year and next year.
The new figures published this week show that sixth forms and colleges across Lambeth will receive a total of £17,412,000 funding in the coming year, boosting the number of planned sixth form and college places by 193 compared to last year.
Across London there will be a total of 4,115 extra planned places in education or training for 16-18 year olds – a total of 192,285 places. An extra £ £50.3 m of funding will mean a record investment in 16-18 education of £990m across London in 2009/10.
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Streatham, said:
“During the recession the extra investment in education and training places for young people in Streatham is more important than ever before.
“As a result of the funding announced in the Budget and now allocated to our area, every 16 and 17 year old in Streatham will have a guaranteed place in school, college, training or an apprenticeship this September and next September.
“This September Guarantee for school leavers means all young people will have the opportunity to get the skills and qualifications they need to get on in life and get a good job, whether their strengths are practical, academic or both.
“The Conservatives have refused to match Labour’s guarantee for school leavers and to match the extra funding to go with it. As well as pledging to cut the number of apprenticeships, they oppose the new Diploma qualifications which combine practical and theoretical learning.”
