UCU response to Labour education manifesto launch

UCU said it welcomed the emphasis Labour put on vocational education, but said it needed to clear up questions about funding for adult education. The manifesto includes a pledge 'to protect the entire education budget in real terms'. However, the union said Labour needed to set out its response to government plans to slash some budgets by 24%, a move colleges say will decimate further education.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We welcome Labour's commitment to improve careers advice. Young people should have access to high quality independent advice on their future irrespective of gender, background or the type of school they attend.

'Labour needs to clarify what its plans for adult education are. It says it will protect the entire education budget, so does that mean it will reverse the pernicious cuts to adult education that the coalition announced in the dying days of this parliament?'

* Almost one in five (17%) pupils in social grade DE reported receiving no advice or guidance about the different options available to them when they leave school or college, compared to just one in 10 (9%) pupils in social grade AB. Those who said they received no advice or guidance are most likely to attend state school (15%), compared to 5% at private schools or sixth form colleges and 7% of college students. The full report is available here.