More than 1,600 extra sixth form and college places could be created across the North East, in a bid to stop more young people falling out of education, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Daniel Holland.
Mayor Kim McGuinness and the region’s council leaders are expected to sign off an £8.1 million investment package next week to boost capacity at 13 colleges.
There has been widespread concern over the number of young people in the North East who are not in employment, education or training (NEET).
Our region has the highest NEET rate among 16 to 24-year-olds in England – 21%, totalling more than 64,000 people, according to latest Government figures for 2025.
And a report due to be presented to the North East mayoral authority cabinet next week warns that there is a “significant risk” of more youngsters becoming inactive over the next three years.
There is an expected spike in the region’s 16 to 18-year-old population, with demand for further education places due to peak in the next two academic years, which has sparked fears of a shortage of places in sixth forms and on college courses.
The report states: “Without intervention, there is a significant risk that young people, particularly those with SEND, lower prior attainment, or other barriers to participation, will be unable to access suitable post-16 provision, increasing the risk of disengagement and becoming NEET.”
The £8.1 million funding, devolved to the mayor by the Department for Education, would be used to pay for projects such as the installation of modular classrooms, developing specialist vocational workshops, and converting under-utilised space into extra learning areas.
It is hoped that 14 separate projects to increase college and sixth form capacity would create at least 1,638 additional education and training places by 2029.
It would be allocated as follows:
- Bishop Auckland College Group – £621,692, 180 extra places
- New College Durham – £967,310, 280 places
- East Durham College – £345,620, 100 places
- Durham Sixth Form Centre – £172,809, 30 places
- South Tyneside College – £700,000, 60 places
- Tyne Coast College – £705,127, 130 places
- City of Sunderland College – £1,280,966, 135 places
- Gateshead College – £775,000, 329 places
- Newcastle College – £844,179, 150 places
- North East Futures UTC – £147,692, 50 places
- Gosforth Academy – £280,000, 100 places
- Newcastle Sixth Form – £94,000, 24 places
- Northumberland College Kirkley Hall campus – £1,160,383, 120 places
Charlotte Carpenter, Director of Skills, Inclusion & Public Service Reform at the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, said: “This investment gives all our young people the opportunity for the education they deserve.
“It’s a direct response to rising demand for post-16 education and training places, and helps build the specialist facilities our colleges and schools need.
“By investing right across the North East, we’re making sure no young person is held back from the skills, training or support that can shape their future.”
Daniel Holland
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
