WARRINGTON and Vale Royal College's funding was cut by more than £4 million ahead of its Hartford campus closure, Mike Amesbury has told a Westminster debate.

The debate on further education (FE) in Parliament saw MPs discuss a petition calling to increase college funding to sustainable levels.

Weaver Vale representative Mike has been a vocal opponent of the campus closure, announced last March. A planning application to demolish the campus and build up to 108 homes is imminent.

He said during the debate: “Fifty-seven members of staff were recently made redundant at Warrington and Vale Royal College in my constituency when the Northwich campus was closed.

"It is facing funding pressures of about £4 million as a direct result of this under-resourcing.”

Figures provided to the MP by the University and College Union (UCU) revealed that Mid Cheshire College had seen its funding cut from £14million to £9.7million in 2017-18.

Elsewhere in Weaver Vale, figures on the School Cuts website also revealed that Sir John Deane’s College lost £519,294 between 2015 and 2020. This was the equivalent of £333 per pupil.

Nationally, FE has suffered year-on-year cuts since 2010, with funding for adult education slashed by 62 per cent and total numbers of enrolments falling from 5.1m to 1.8m.

Funding in real terms for students aged 16 to 18 has been cut by 8 per cent since 2010.

Education minister Anne Milton said during the debate that the government was awaiting the results of an independent review into post-18 education, while new technical qualifications 'T Levels' are set to be introduced in September 2020.

She said: "We sometimes forget that despite all the challenges that FE faces, 81 per cent of colleges are rated 'good' or 'outstanding'.

"However, I know that Ofsted has raised concerns about the financial stability of the sector and how finances constrain what FE colleges and sixth-form colleges can do.

"We must ensure that everyone, whatever their age, background or prior educational attainment, can access the best opportunities that are available."

Speaking outside the Chamber following the debate, Mike added: “I’ve made no secret of my opposition to plans by the college to close its Hartford campus with a view to building homes on the site, and I will continue to campaign against it.

“But there’s no hiding the fact that the college like many others has been under significant funding pressures for years due to the government’s under funding of further education.

“FE is a vital link between school and the world of work or higher education and if not funded properly, we risk a whole generation of young people failing to live up to their potential.”