Sixth formers need more support - principal

Principal Charles Bartholomew says there is more demand for places at the college

More spending on sixth form colleges would allow institutions to “provide a far greater range of services” to students, a principal has said.

Charles Bartholomew, from LIPA Sixth Form College in Liverpool, told BBC Politics North West the world was “a far more complicated place” than when sixth forms were originally set up and students needed more support.

The Sixth Form Association said funding was, on average, 15% lower in real terms than it was in 2010.

The government said it was investing in education for 16-19 year olds.

The college opened in 2016.

The Sixth Form Association has called for an additional £710 of funding per student in 2025.

It said this was needed to “keep pace with rising costs” and ensure every young person “receives the education and support they need”.

LIPA Sixth Form College shares a name with the Liverpool performing arts school set up by Sir Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, and is part of a trust which includes a primary school and high school.

It offers courses in areas such as acting, dance, musical theatre and music and like other sixth forms it is funded by the Department for Education.

The courses students study include music, acting and dance

Mr Bartholomew said there was more demand for counselling, support and specialist services.

“There’s a very strong emphasis that needs to take place on the support of young people to help them with their studies and to help them progress,” he said.

He added that there was also more demand generally for sixth form places.

The college is set to expand after receiving Department for Education funding which will allow it to take on an additional 110 pupils.

“There’s a lot more people knocking at the door and what we all want to do is give that opportunity to our young people, give them the best possible experience so they can move on to higher education and work and beyond,” Mr Bartholomew said.

Deputy Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association James Kewin, said times had changed and what young people needed now was "much more complex”.

"They need employability support, careers advice and they need very often mental health and welfare support,” he said.

He added that the current level of funding was "inadequate" and the government needed to "move with the times" and make it a priority.

A Department for Education statement said: “To support colleges to offer high quality education and training we’re investing an extra £1.6bn in 16-19 education by 2024-25 compared with the 2021-22 financial year.

“Our reforms to qualifications are all part of our driving mission to make sure more young people gain the skills they need to progress into great jobs, with alternative qualifications continuing to be available to young people.”