Our College is backing a national campaign which calls for fairer funding as staff and students prepare to lobby Government.
The College has signed up to the ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign, highlighting work that education institutions across the country do as well as investment in the further education sector and fairer pay for staff.
In support, Leeds College of Building is hosting an Open Event at its North Street Campus on 16 October, 5pm - 7pm, during the campaign. The event is a celebration of the opportunities available through further education; students will be able to meet staff, tour facilities, and learn more about the courses on offer at the UK's only specialist construction college.
The ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign is attracting support from colleges across the country, is calling on the government to increase funding for 16-19-year-olds by five per cent a year for the next five years and to provide exceptional funding, ring-fenced for teacher pay.
Nationally, college leaders, staff, trade unions and students are preparing to lobby Parliament on October 17, as part of a week of activities for College Week, which runs from October 15 to 19.
The ‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign is being spearheaded by The Association of Colleges in partnership with the National Union of Students, Association of College and School Leaders, University and Colleges Union, Unison, GMB, TUC and National Education Union.
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 the government to increase 16-19 funding by 5% a year for 5 years. It is also asking the Department for Education to provide exceptional funding, ring-fenced for teacher pay.
Ian Billyard, CEO & Principal at Leeds College of Building, said:
“Our young people are being short-changed compared with their counterparts in other countries and compared with previous generations. The hours of teaching and support, the choice they have and the enrichment they are offered have all reduced as funding cuts have bitten. This cannot continue if we are to secure the future of our nation.”
