SFCA responds to new funding for college pay bills in 2025/26

Commenting on today's announcement of additional funding to 16-19 providers for 2025/26 pay costs, Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Association, said:

"Colleges will be very pleased to receive this welcome funding boost. The decision to extend the funding uplift to colleges as well as schools reflects the principle established in the settlement of our recent legal action that schools and colleges will not be treated differently from each other in this regard.

We hope this additional funding will enable us to reach a pay settlement for staff in sixth form colleges, and avoid the strike action that disrupted the education of so many young people earlier this year. While details of the funding still need to be confirmed, including colleges is an important step and raising the rate is the most effective way of ensuring that all students benefit from any increases in 16 to 19 funding”.