BTEC funding

That this House raises its concerns about the Government’s plans to cut funding for the majority of BTEC qualifications; notes that under the Government’s current plans funding will start to be removed for BTEC qualifications in 2024-25; further notes that it is estimated that at least 34 per cent of 16 to 18 year olds studying a Level 3 qualification in England are pursuing at least one applied general qualification such as BTEC, including students in Hemsworth constituency, such as at Minsthorpe Community College; recognises that according to the Department for Education’s equalities impact assessment, those from SEND backgrounds, Asian ethnic groups, disadvantaged backgrounds and males are disproportionately likely to be affected; believes that scrapping BTECs will leave many students without a viable education pathway at the age of 16 and will hamper progress to higher education and skilled employment; further believes that many colleges across the country will be unable to maintain a post-16 education provision if BTECs are scrapped and this will disproportionately impact colleges with high numbers of disadvantaged children; and calls on the Government to urgently reassess its plans to scrap funding for BTEC qualifications.