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The Institute for Learning (IfL) has responded to the chancellor’s autumn statement, which included the announcement of £270m of capital funding to be made available to further education institutions.

Toni Fazaeli, IfL’s chief executive, said, “As well as the focus on investing in science, research and innovation, the investment in laboratories, classrooms and facilities in FE colleges is welcomed by IfL, the professional body for teachers and trainers. Our members are clear about the need for specialist equipment and facilities to be renewed regularly so that they have access to the most up to date vocational facilities for teaching and training. This is to ensure that they are properly equipped to prepare young people and adults for today’s industries and tomorrow’s – not yesterday’s.

“IfL is concerned that FE colleges and providers must have sufficient core funding to continue delivering a consistently good range of provision and excellent teaching and training, including in partnership with employers and for local communities. This is FE’s core business. The vagaries of small pots of local and national development funding, with their tendency to stop and start, can be inimical to the interests of excellent provision over time. Last week, Ofsted’s chief inspector exhorted the sector to concentrate on delivering sustained, top-quality teaching, training and learning: IfL sees this as requiring long-term and reliable investment.

“George Osborne also announced that the personal allowance will be increased to £9,440 from April 2013. IfL is committed to fairness, and is pleased to confirm that from April 2013 this figure will become the earnings threshold below which part-time teachers and trainers are entitled to pay its concessionary membership fee. This will be reflected in communications to all members who have not yet renewed their IfL membership, as well as to new teachers and trainers joining IfL as their membership body.”