16-19 Learning and Skills Funding
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funds learning for 16-19 year olds via 6th form colleges and FE Colleges.
The raising of the participation age (RPA), means all young people up to the age of 18 should be in training, or employment with training (e.g. an apprenticeship).
The programmes are explained below outlining funding available to this age group with links to more detailed information.
Study programmes, or programmes of study (POS)
These are mainly full-time college-based programmes consisting of a substantial technical or vocational qualification, work placement/experience and maths and English qualifications (if needed). POS are fully funded for the following learners:
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✔
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Students aged 16 to 19.
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✔
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Students up to the age of 25 when they have a Learning Difficulty Assessment (LDA) or Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
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✔
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14 to 16 year olds who are directly enrolled into eligible FE institutions.
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✔
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Home educated students of compulsory school age at any further education college.
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Each study programme is funded according to the age and type of student and size of the annual programme based on hours of learning delivery. The diagram below shows study programme funding rates according to programme size and student type.
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Band
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Annual timetabled hours / and student type
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National funding rate per student
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5
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540+ hours
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- 16-17 year olds
- Students aged 18 and over with high needs
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£4,000
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4a
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450+ hours
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Students aged 18 and over who are not high needs
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£3,300
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4b
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450 to 539
hours
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- 16 and 17 year olds
- Students aged 18 and over who have high needs
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£3,300
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3
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360 to 449
hours
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£2,700
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2
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280 to 359
hours
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£2,133
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1
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Up to 279
hours
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£4,000 per FTE*
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(FTE*) means the proportion of 600 hours.
Maths and English – qualifications are funded separately from the rest of the study programme, according to student needs.
City & Guilds provides a full maths and English qualification offer to support study programmes, along with our technical qualifications and TechBac for the main substantial qualification.
City & Guilds Maths and English offer
City & Guilds 14-19 Qualification offer
City & Guilds TechBac and Technicals offer
Maths and English funding
Apprenticeships for 16-19 year olds – Apprenticeships are open to any learner aged 16+ and there is extra funding available to support delivery to 16-18 year old apprentices. City & Guilds provides a dedicated Apprenticeship website with detailed and up to date information for students, employers and training providers.
City & Guilds Apprenticeships
Other useful resources and links (external)
Funding for 16-19 year olds
16-19 funding rules and arrangements - how it works
16-19 Maths and English condition of funding
Planned hours in study programmes
Large program uplift