At least 150 sixth form places have been put in jeopardy after the Learning Skills Council announced a £750,000 cut to Medway’s sixth forms budget.

The blunder by the flagship Labour government quango could mean pupils face an unacceptable increase in class sizes, a reduction in courses or teachers being cut unless a solution is reached.

But Simon Trotter, the assistant director for learning and achievement at Medway Council, believes the matter will be resolved.

He said: "We are obviously disappointed about the cut - it’s between £750,000 and £800,000 so it’s a lot of money.

"However, we do think there is a possibility that it can be resolved.

"The way schools are funded we are responsible for education for children aged three to 16 and then the Learning Skills Council takes over education for 16 to 19-year-olds so we don’t have any funding we could use to plug the gap.

"My boss Rose Collinson, director of children and adult services, has been working with other directors to put pressure on the government to try and sort this out and I know she’s also been talking to the three local MP’s about it.

"This is a nationwide problem and the government is under huge pressure from all local authorities and schools to sort it out.

"If the matter doesn’t get sorted out then the consequences are potentially very serious. Our biggest loser would lose about £95,000 - at least three teachers, and that would obviously have a real impact on the courses the school can offer and the number of students it can offer places to.

"It could also mean a cut in courses and larger class sizes but we are not giving up hope yet."

Jonathan Shaw, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, said a funding solution was close to being finalised.

He said: "We are expecting an announcement shortly as to how the government are going to respond to the situation.

"We made a pledge to provide every 16-year-old with an opportunity for post 16 education and we need to fulfil that."

Bob Marshall-Andrews QC, MP for Medway, said: "I am extremely concerned at the withdrawal of funding.

"I have written to both the Chair of the Council and the relevant Minister in order to seek an explanation."