Calls have been made for the government to provide Weymouth College with a funding lifeline.

Amid increasing costs and a drop in funding, colleges are struggling.

Chancellor Philip Hammond is being urged to consider boosting funding for further education to benefit colleges such as Weymouth.

Unlike schools, funding for further education has long been neglected campaigners say, experiencing a permanent drop over several years.

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The call for support comes from South Dorset MP Richard Drax who has added his name to a letter by MPs which has been delivered to Number 11 Downing Street today.

It asks for Mr Hammond's support in increasing further education funding in the upcoming Spending Review this spring.

The letter says: "Over the last ten years further education has been the Cinderella of education spending; for while government policy has protected the incomes of schools and universities, colleges have been dealt an average funding cut of 30 per cent and costs have increased significantly.

"Further education is the only stage of education to have received a permanent drop in funding per student during the last eight years.

"We believe this constraint on FE resources has had an impact on the teaching, courses and above all opportunities for young people and skills of all ages."

Mr Drax said: “We have an outstanding further education college in South Dorset in the shape of Weymouth College.

“It deserves much more investment. University is not the sole answer and does not necessarily prepare students for the working world. Our young people need to be ready for the new, post Brexit economy and to learn the skills employers will be demanding.

“Already we rank poorly in international skills comparisons and, as we point out in our letter, only 50 per cent of adults are only at or below the level of numeracy expected of an 11-year-old. This is shocking for a country like ours.”

He added: "The Ofsted Chief Inspector has already stated that further education will continue to struggle without an increase in funding. I can only press the Chancellor to consider our letter and to ensure that this long neglected area of education is given more emphasis and an above inflation increase this year.”

Principal of Weymouth College Nigel Evans welcomed the comments from Mr Drax.

He said: "The single issue that the college continues to endure is chronic and acute funding shortfalls – far beyond those endured by schools – and yet largely ignored.

"There will come a point when such shortfalls must impact colleges however – not least in estates and IT infrastructure – and these are just some of the reasons that the funding shortfalls of Further Education have been highlighted by this diverse group of MPs.

"We are delighted that Richard Drax has thrown his voice and significant support behind this important national issue."

Mr Evans pointed out that the college was awarded a 'good' rating for all of its provision by Ofsted in November 2015 and continues to be the only 'good' provider of 16-18 education in Weymouth and Portland. This performance benefits some 1,300 16-18 year-olds, 300-plus apprentices per year and a large number of adults.