College in Brown's backyard takes lion's share of funding

Published on Friday 4 September 2009 22:06

A COLLEGE in the heart of Gordon Brown's constituency has received the biggest hand-out in a £12 million further education funding boost targeted at communities in the most need.

Adam Smith College, in Kirkcaldy, has been allocated 1,442,740, marking a 12 per cent boost in its income from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

The total pot, to be spent on building and equipment, has been shared among 16 of Scotland's 43 colleges and is aimed at areas with high levels of unemployment.

Earlier this year, 7.7 million was distributed among 26 colleges to create more than 3,100 extra places in the most recession-hit communities.

Of those, ten were not given extra capital funding in this wave, as they recently received cash for major building works.

A huge surge in applications this year saw demand for places at some colleges increase by 300 per cent.

The recession was blamed for the soaring interest as school-leaver jobs dry up.

Chris Travis, former chief executive of the umbrella group Scotland's Colleges, had warned that not providing more places could risk creating a lost generation of unskilled Scots.

The second-highest amount went to the Falkirk-based Forth Valley College, which receives 1,431,719, an 11.9 per cent boost.

Mark Batho, SFC chief executive, said: "This funding will help colleges provide facilities and equipment for learning and teaching as a result of the additional students they will have coming through their doors.

"It is essential that students benefit from the most up-to-date equipment and materials needed to gain skills and experience for the workplace."

James Watt College, in Greenock, had the third-biggest allocation of 1,295,461, a 10.8 per cent increase in budget.

James Watt assistant principal Alistair Shaw said: "The college will decide over the next few weeks how it plans to maximise the additional funds to address the economic downturn within Inverclyde and north Ayrshire."

Stevenson is the only college in Edinburgh to benefit, with 818,452.

Some of the colleges benefiting are in new towns, such as Cumbernauld College and West Lothian College in Livingston.

In total, 28.1 million of additional funding was provided to the Scottish Government following the UK budget announcement in April. The remaining 8.4 million will be used to maintain the additional student places created, next year.

The Prime Minister, who has held the figurehead role of chancellor of Adam Smith College since 2005, described the college during a visit last month as a "remarkable education provider".

CASH SHARE-OUT

Adam Smith 1,442,740

Ayr College 255,620

Carnegie College 474,627

Central, Glasgow 394,252

Coatbridge 655,207

Cumbernauld 565,974

Dundee 925,502

Forth Valley 1,431,719

Glasgow College of Nautical Studies 290,641

Glasgow Metropolitan 643,493

James Watt 1,295,461

Kilmarnock 893,902

Reid Kerr, Paisley 852,494

Stevenson, Edinburgh 818,452

Stow, Glasgow 243,832*

West Lothian, Livingston 816,086

* subject to negotiation