THE Chancellor George Osborne will announce the outcome of the Spending Review on November 25.

His decisions will be crucial to our college's current and future students.

The Government has only promised not to cut funding for the NHS, schools and international aid.

Meanwhile, education and training for 16 to 18-year-olds is not protected, leaving this age group vulnerable to more funding cuts.

I am sure the local community would agree with me that providing high-quality education and training to 16 to 18-year-olds in Keighley is worth investing in if we are to ensure they can all continue to an apprenticeship with a local business, a good job or university.

As a member of the Association of Colleges (AoC), we are coming together with other colleges across the country to urge the Government to fund the education of our 16 to 18-year-olds at the same level provided for the education of 14 to 16-year-olds. This is just one recommendation that AoC has submitted in a paper to the Government to inform the Spending Review at aoc.co.uk/spendingreview.

I would ask everyone in the community to make it clear to their local MP before November 25 they are against further cuts to funding the education and training of our young people.

COLIN BOOTH

Leeds City College chief executive and principal