MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has given his support to Colleges Week at Portsmouth College today.
This week takes place from Monday 15 October to Friday 19 October 2018 and is part of the ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign and sees colleges across the country hosting events to showcase the brilliant things they do, day in and day out, as well as a national lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 17 October.
The ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign is a partnership between Association of Colleges (AoC), National Union of Students (NUS), Association of College and School Leaders (ASCL), University and Colleges Union (UCU), Unison, GMB, TUC and National Education Union (NEU).
Portsmouth College is well known for providing an excellent education to learners from right across the city and beyond. It has grown rapidly from 966 16-18 year olds in 2010, to 1442 as at September 2018. It also runs courses for adults on four evenings a week and now runs apprenticeships for 300 young people and adults. It has also just started running programmes for international students.
It is also well known for offering an innovative service to its learners, with its unique timetable, use of iPads and its E6 programme of additional activities and opportunities.
However, there is currently a reduction in education funding once a student turns 16 – whether they are in a school sixth form or a college. ‘Love Our Colleges’ is calling on government to increase 16-19 funding by 5% a year for 5 years. It is also asking Department for Education to provide exceptional funding, ring-fenced for teacher pay.
Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth South MP said:
“Our colleges are a credit to our city, and it was great to pay a visit to Portsmouth College today to thank them in person for the brilliant work they do transforming lives. Further education is key to the strength of our communities and economy, but it has seen funding slashed by this Government.
I back the AoC’s call for the Chancellor to invest in our young people and raise funding by 5%.
The Government are holding our teachers and their students back, but I’ll continue to fight for the resources they need to thrive.”
Portsmouth College Principal Simon Barrable said:
“Portsmouth College is right at the heart of our community and wants to continue to provide its excellent and innovative service to this community. In order to do so, we need to be properly funded going forward. The 5% increase being asked for would help to ensure that all colleges can continue to deliver and indeed improve the services they offer.”
David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said:
“Every single day colleges like Portsmouth provide a world class education and transform the lives of millions of people.
Colleges Week is an opportunity to celebrate the brilliant things that go on and a chance to showcase the brilliant staff that make it possible. It is simple, if we want a world-class education system then we need to properly invest in it.”
