Further education students in England under ‘extreme poverty’, report finds

Further education students in England are struggling in “extreme poverty”, forced to work excessive hours in insecure jobs to support themselves and their families, and falling behind with their studies as a result, according to a new report.

FE colleges say they are seeing students in “financial desperation”, often dressed in the same clothes for days on end and struggling at home where family tensions and domestic abuse are on the increase as the cost of living crisis bites.

There has been a fall in attendance, with some students dropping out altogether, and an increase in safeguarding concerns involving criminal and sexual exploitation of the most vulnerable students who “are often drawn into lawbreaking because of financial destitution”.

There has also been a “massive” increase in students requesting bursary support, the reports says. At Hartlepool College, 95% of the 16- to 18-year-old cohort of students applied for a bursary this year, compared with 65% last year.

The report by the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for students said a decade of cumulative funding cuts in FE meant colleges did not have the resources to meet growing need among students, many of whom are also suffering from mental health issues.

Eight in 10 colleges who were polled have made a referral to A&E in the last year due to student mental health concerns and nine in 10 are aware of students attempting to kill themselves in the last 12 months, with 70% reporting an increase in the frequency of these incidents.

Although total spending per student in 16–18 education is set to rise by 6% between 2021–22 and 2024–25, even with this additional funding, the report says that college spending per pupil in 2024–25 will still be about 10% below 2010–11 levels.

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are much more likely to study in an FE college and FE students are more likely than their peers in higher education to have qualified for free school meals. Of those surveyed for the report, 72% said they are facing costs that are putting them in financial difficulty, 23% said energy was the main cost pressure, and 21% said transport was the main issue.

Paul Blomfield, the APPG chair who is the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, said: “Further education should provide an opportunity for skills development and social mobility, however, many of the young people and adults who might benefit most from further education and training are now – because of the cost-of-living crisis – less likely to take up opportunities to study, attend courses and achieve their potential.”

Bernie Savage, the National Union of Students’ vice-president for FE, said: “It is shocking that in 2023 we have students and apprentices that are left with no other option but to leave education because they cannot afford to continue their studies and placements.

“They are being forced to sacrifice essentials such as food and transport to classes just to try and continue in their studies that little bit longer and it is unacceptable. The colleges that support these students are rapidly running out of money and are forced to cut back on essential services and support that their students depend on.”

The report is based on responses from more than 700 students and just under 80 colleges, with additional information from sector bodies such as the Association of Colleges and the NUS, the Sutton Trust educational charity and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

The Department for Education has been approached for comment.