Schools and colleges in Lincolnshire could be forced to cut courses and slash the number of pupils they take on after funding cuts were announced.

Funding levels published by the Government will see a sixth-form of 250 students lose around £55,000 in the next school year.

The shortfall has come after the Learning and Skills Council under-estimated pupil numbers.

Headteachers across Lincolnshire have been told that budgets for next year will be far lower than allocations announced by the Learning and Skills Council at the beginning of March.

William Farr School in Welton will lose around £150,000 next year as a result of the budget announcement.

Headmaster Paul Strong said: "This will affect around 40-45 of the secondary schools in Lincolnshire.

"The Government has said it wants to make sixth-forms bigger but now it has just taken the money away."

He added that the school will be forced to cut trips, teacher training and even heating.

A spokesman for the Learning and Skills Council said the number of youngsters wanting to continue studying after secondary school was higher than expected.

"While that is good news, we continue to work with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to make sure we are able to fund the additional growth," he said.

For more on the funding crisis, see Tuesday's Echo.