Revealed: 39 sixth forms and colleges to split £83m post-16 capacity fund

The government has named 39 sixth forms and colleges that will share £83 million from its post-16 capacity fund to build facilities to accommodate a demographic spike.

New classrooms, science labs and other types of teaching spaces will be created by those receiving a slice of the “post-16 capacity fund”, which was promised in chancellor Rishi Sunak’s 2020 spending review and opened for bids in May.

Secondary school pupil numbers are expected to continue rising over the next three years, as a population bulge created by a baby boom in the early 2000s makes its way through the school system.

The Sixth Form Colleges Association estimates that around 260,000 more 16 to 19-year-olds will participate in education in the coming years.

SFCA deputy chief executive James Kewin said the capacity funding “provides invaluable investment to institutions as they prepare for the demographic increase in 16 to 19-year-olds, and the projects announced today will benefit young people right across England”.

The Department for Education said the funding would also support the government’s drive to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with all successful colleges and sixth forms required to show how their projects will contribute to the target.

Skills minister Alex Burghart said: “Every young person should have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to reach their goals and go on to have successful careers.

“This investment will boost capacity so we can make sure there is a place for every 16 to 19-year-old, giving them access to the high-quality learning facilities they need to succeed.”

Sixth form colleges, 16 to 19 academies, 16 to 19 free schools such as university technical colleges, and general FE colleges were allowed to apply for the fund.

Post-16 capacity fund: The winners