Leeds welcomes announcement of £10m funding to help meet rising demand for further education places

The Department for Education has confirmed the grant funding will be awarded directly to Leeds City Council to create more learning spaces within post-16 education settings to accommodate the significant increase in the number of mainstream students aged 16 to 19, from 2025-2026.

Like other major cities across England, Leeds has seen a demographic increase in 16-18-year-olds over the last three years, leading to a projected gap in the number of FE places available across the city.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated the population of 16, 17 and 18-year-olds will continue to rise until 2030, levelling out at just under 30,000.

Since 2023, the council has been working extensively with partners across Leeds to address the need for provision, resulting in 900 new post-16 places created to meet shortfalls in areas of greatest need.  

This new £10m grant will now support the development of further capacity within the city.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “Leeds is an incredible city for people of all ages to learn and further their education, with a range of nationally-recognised colleges and institutions providing many learning, training and apprenticeship opportunities.

“The pressures we face are not unique to Leeds, with all core cities nationally grappling with similar challenges, but we remain committed to finding a solution.

“To that end, we have made great strides so far to address the pressing need for further places, working closely with FE providers, community stakeholders and the Department for Education.  

“This £10m additional funding is a major boost in helping us to provide the physical spaces and learning environments needed to enable more students to continue their education and enjoy the best possible opportunities here in Leeds.”

ENDS

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