CORNISH STUDENTS HIT BY LSC FUNDING FIASCO

3.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Apr 2009

Cornish schools and colleges with sixth form students are facing funding cuts following another embarrassing miscalculation from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

The LSC is already under fire from further education colleges across the country, after massively over-reaching their capital budget. Cornwall Colleges' multi-million pound plans for its Pool campus are in limbo whilst the Government and LSC work out what to do next.

The latest revelation emerged at the end of March, when schools and colleges were informed their "final" funding allocations had been cut at the very last minute, following an admission from the LSC that they had under-estimated pupil numbers.

It is estimated that schools with sixth forms and colleges have lost up to 4% from their original budgets for the next academic year. Local MP Julia Goldsworthy has been contacted by teaching staff who are concerned that either their teaching hours or their jobs may have to be cut as a result.

Julia has written to local heads asking for further information, so the issue can be raised with government education minister Sion Simon at a meeting planned for 27th April.

Commenting, Julia Goldsworthy said:

"Yet another government policy administered by the Learning and Skills Council is heading for major cash problems, due entirely to their own incompetence.

"Cutting education budgets doesn't make sense during a recession, not least when the government wanted more young people to stay on in education and training past the age of 16.

"Our young people need all the help they can in developing their skills but instead they're having support taken away, which is going to have a massive impact on schools and colleges across Cornwall."