‘Borderline’ students can’t get places – MP
COLLEGES in West Lancashire are losing out on student admissions due to unfair funding policies in neighbouring areas.
That was the warning from MP Rosie Cooper, who says students from the Liverpool City Region and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority can only receive funding to attend colleges within their own boundaries.
That means that those from places such as Liverpool, Southport and Wigan would not receive contributions towards their education if they wished to attend West Lancashire College.
Both Liverpool City Region (LCR) and Greater Manchester Combined Authorities (GMCA) have been refusing funding for residents looking to study at West Lancashire College, she says. As combined authorities have a devolved adult education budget, they are allowed to make funding choices which include only contracting with colleges within their boundaries.
With West Lancashire College based in Skelmersdale, it sits near the border to both regions and leaders have been found that neither authority has been willing to allow their residents funding to attend the college. Concerned that this is restricting the options available to residents of GMCA and LCR, and severely limiting the potential student pool for West Lancashire College, Ms Cooper raised this with both Mayors and the Department for Education.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor at Liverpool City Region agreed to open negotiations with Further Education Colleges outside of Liverpool, and is setting up a meeting with the principal at West Lancs College. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is, however, yet to respond, the MP said.
The West Lancashire MP asked the Department for Education what advice they can give to local authorities acting in this protectionist way with taxpayers funds, to the detriment of places like
West Lancashire College. In response, Gillian Keegan, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education, said: “We would encourage all mayoral combined authorities always to look at outcomes for learners. We are there to ensure that learners get the best experience and outcomes.
“The White Paper that we published in January 2021 sets out the Government’s overall objective for the funding system, which is to streamline the system so that there is a simpler allocation approach that will give greater autonomy and flexibility, and we also want an effective approach that improves accountability.
“We are currently working with the sector to develop and test our proposals ahead of consultation.
Ms Cooper was left unimpressed and said it is “unsurprising, yet still disappointing” that the government was unwilling to intervene.
She said: “It is astounding that the Government can stand by and allow Education to be driven from the boundaries in the name of protectionism. I am pleased to hear Steve Rotheram has reversed this decision and I have urged Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to do the same.
“The devolution of responsibility to combined authorities will inevitably cause a funding dead zone, where authorities withdraw boundary services in favour of services only their residents can use. Not only will this affect education, but public transport and possibly health and social care.
“The Government need to step in before this gets out of hand. Places like West Lancashire that are trapped between two city regions will continually be left with the scraps.
“We need a system that truly considers rural areas near boundaries, one that allows and encourages equal access to services, rather than a postcode lottery dictated by protectionist Mayors.”