AoC response to the Education and Skills Funding Agency update on Adult Skills Funding plans for 2025-26

Responding to the Education and Skills Funding Agency update on Adult Skills Funding plans for 2025-26, David Hughes, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges said: "Colleges in the areas of England not covered by devolution deals have responded over recent years to government encouragement by shifting their adult skills funding into courses which support key sectors of the economy and helping people get into work, so it is ironic that instead of a budget increase, there is a 6% slice to allocations to keep Department for Education spending within a budget that has not increased in cash terms since 2016.

"Adult skills funding delivers exactly what the Work and Pensions Secretary of State has said is needed - helping people get the skills and confidence to gain productive work as well as supporting the government's economic growth objectives but cuts like this make it harder and harder to reach the adults who want that support."