1. There Is An Alternative Say No to Sixth Form College Cuts Support the NUT Campaign

2. Sixth form colleges under attack The sixth form college sector is recognised as successful but is under attack Colleges have implemented redundancies, increased group sizes and reduced the courses offered Students and colleges suffered from these cuts and the abolition of the EMA

3. Area Reviews The Government’s “area reviews” will force many sixth form colleges into merger or closure The funding pressures which the Government will use to justify mergers and closures have been created as a result of its own policy of slashing 16-19 funding

4. NUT ballot and campaign The NUT seeks to defend 16-19 education from the impact of the cuts NUT members in sixth form colleges are being consulted about a proposed national demonstration and one-day strike in March 2016 The industrial action short of strike action which began in autumn 2012 is continuing

5. Funding The Coalition Government slashed funding for sixth form colleges The Chancellor announced in November 2015 that 16-19 funding will be “protected in cash terms” between 2016 and 2020 Taking inflation into account, however, this will mean a further real terms cut of 8% over the next four years.

6. What is the NUT seeking? Restoration of 16-19 funding to the levels which existed before the Coalition Government started its cuts programme Exemption from VAT - without having to apply for academy status Removal of the threat of closure or merger - and recognition of sixth form colleges’ achievements

7. Why the cuts? Cuts to 16-19 funding are part of the Government’s wider public sector cuts IFS says the cuts are the deepest since at least 1945 The cuts, including to teacher pay, have reduced economic growth

8. The long-term picture

9. A history lesson UK public debt is significantly lower than in many other major economies National debt is not new - it has been much higher in the past Between 1916 and 1960, UK debt was much higher than now - yet we could still fund the creation of the welfare state and the NHS

10. We’re not all in this together Inequality has grown since 1979 The Government prefers spending cuts to taxing the banks Tax and NI changes will compound the impact of pay cuts and pension contribution increases It’s all about privatisation - but public spending is needed to secure growth

11. Education cuts don’t heal A first class education system is essential for growth We need to invest in education A Government that doesn’t value education doesn’t understand economics

12. What can we do? Vote in the NUT ballot Talk to parents and students Get everyone to support the planned demonstration Talk to teachers in your college about the importance of the campaign Lobby your MP and local media We know there is an alternative – you can be part of the fight back!