Schools minister Lord Hill has today (January 19th) announced a new capital funding package for sixth form colleges across England.
£57.4 million will be used for building improvements and to make essential repairs.
A further £30 million has been set aside to help schools and academies with sixth forms to meet additional demand for places.
"Even where funding is tight, it is essential that buildings and equipment are properly maintained, to ensure that health and safety standards are met, and to prevent a backlog of decay building up which is very expensive to address," Lord Hill said.
"I am therefore also pleased to announce that in 2011-12 all sixth form colleges will become eligible for Devolved Formula Capital. The average allocation to a sixth form college will be in the region of £40,000.
"This funding is primarily for planned maintenance and is in addition to the £57m for building condition needs."
Commenting on the funding, David Igoe, chief executive of the Sixth Form Colleges Forum, said the money will be warmly welcomed.
In related news, thousands of sixth form students are expected to take to the streets today to protest against the coalition government's plans to scrap Education Maintenance Allowance payments for disadvantaged pupils.
Ministers claim the scheme is too costly and say they intend to replace it with more targeted support for students.
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