Government spending cuts could spark a major crisis in education for 16- to 19-year-olds, says Stephen Hoare, who finds that A-level standards and social mobility are at risk This year, with much fanfare, the Conservative election manifesto promised to maintain core education spending for five- to 16-year-olds. What many commentators failed to notice was that there was no mention of funding for 16- to 19-year-olds, which has been quietly sidelined, leaving colleges for A-level and BTec diploma students unprotected. The brunt of the £450 million in education cuts announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, is expected to fall on sixth-form colleges. The last three years have seen a steady reduction in funding for 16- to 19-year-olds. A renewed raid on college budge