The disadvantage gap is wholly unacceptable and needs to be addressed, says AoC

In response to EPI's annual report, David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said: “The disadvantage gap for 16 to 19-year-olds has remained unchanged since 2019 but it is wholly unacceptable and needs to be addressed. Colleges across the country work incredibly hard to support all students to thrive and succeed, no matter what their circumstances, but we must work harder at pre-16 progress and the transition at age 16. We would like to see a fundamental review of the pathways for all pupils to age 16 and the progression pathways they can access in order to see where the barriers and challenges are.

“Colleges are reporting growing numbers of student poverty, and we know that the cost-of-living crisis is having a very direct impact on young people and their families. We have repeatedly called for the pupil premium to be extended to colleges and urge the new government to take action on this. We also support the EPI’s recommendation that we need a national anti-poverty strategy together with more targeted funding for disadvantaged students.”