WAVENEY MP Bob Blizzard was set to meet with the Children and Schools Secretary Ed Balls today (Tuesday) in a last ditch attempt to gain funding for a new Sixth Form College for Lowestoft.

WAVENEY MP Bob Blizzard was set to meet with the Children and Schools Secretary Ed Balls today (Tuesday) in a last ditch attempt to gain funding for a new Sixth Form College for Lowestoft.

Money previously earmarked for the building of this new facility by the Learning and Skills Council is now being used to complete other capital projects already under construction in the current funding round because of the expected squeeze on future capital funding.

'Long delays to Suffolk County Council's schools reorganisation programme has meant that there is now a serious danger that the new Sixth Form Centre cannot go ahead,' Mr Blizzard said. 'I want to explain first hand to Ed Balls just how vital this project is to the future of Lowestoft and its young people.

'We know that 16-19 year olds want a Sixth Form College. Many are already deserting high school sixth forms and travel to the East Norfolk 6th Form College at Gorleston. There should be an equally good facility here in Lowestoft. Worse still, increasing numbers of youngsters who cannot afford the travel costs or who don't get into East Norfolk are dropping out of school sixth forms altogether.

'The result is falling participation rates for A level courses and decline in A level exam grades achieved at Lowestoft schools,' he added. This underachievement has to be addressed and I'm convinced the way forward has to be a new Sixth Form College for Lowestoft, built next to Lowestoft FE College to provide an existing new facility for 16 -19 year olds, which will raise standards and see more staying on to study. It's vital for Lowestoft that we have a well educated workforce of the future.'