Guidance

16 to 19 education: funding guidance

Rules and guidance for using 16 to 19 formula funding allocated by ESFA.

Applies to England

Overview

Colleges, providers, schools and academies receive annual funding allocations from Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for the provision of 16 to 19 education.

We have published further information on how 16 to 19 funding works, including detailed information on the 16 to 19 funding formula. You can read more about how we allocate funding on the 16 to 19 funding allocations page.

On this page, you will find guidance that all education institutions receiving 16 to 19 formula funding must comply with.

Funding guidance for institutions

You can find the guidance for the previous 3 academic years on each of the pages linked to in these sections.

Funding regulations

The funding regulations guide provides the funding principles, rules on eligibility and other regulations used in the 16 to 19 funding model.

Rates and formula

The rates and formula guide provides information on the funding rates and formula used for 16 to 19 funding calculations.

Individualised learner record (ILR) funding returns

The ILR funding returns guide gives advice about ILR returns for institutions funded by the ESFA.

Subcontracting post-16 education and training guide

The subcontracting post-16 education and training guide provides guidance on how to seek written approval when awarding a contract to a subcontractor for the first time.

Model contract for services/funding agreements

You can find model funding agreements and contracts for each of the education and training providers we fund on the ESFA funding agreements and contracts collection page.

Additional resources for institutions

16 to 19 maths and English conditions of funding

You can find information on the condition of funding for 16 to 19 students without GCSE grade 9 to 4, A* to C or equivalent qualification in maths and/or English on GOV.UK.

The process for seeking young people’s funding for qualifications guidance describes the process involved in seeking public funding in England for the delivery of a qualification to students who are at least aged 14 but are not yet 19 years of age.

Funding guidance presentations

We have developed presentations for institutions to use internally to audiences who are required to understand the funding procedures and guidance. These cover:

Archived guidance

Academic year 2011 to 2012 – 2013 to 2014

Funding regulations, subcontracting controls, rates and formula and ILR returns guides are available at the National Archives.

Academic year 2014 to 2015 – 2018 to 2019

Funding regulations, subcontracting controls, rates and formula and ILR returns guides are available at the National Archives.

Updates to this page

Published 10 March 2014
Last updated 30 March 2023 + show all updates
  1. We have updated the rates and regulation sections for 2023 to 2024. We aim to publish the ILR funding returns guide before the end of June 2023.

  2. We have updated links to published guides for 2022 to 2023

  3. We have added a link to the 2021 to 2022 funding regulations advice.

  4. We have updated the ILR funding returns guidance for 2020 to 2021

  5. We have added a link to the funding guidance for young people 2020 to 2021 subcontracting controls

  6. We have included the link to the funding regulations for 2020 to 2021 academic year

  7. We have added the rates and formula guide for academic year 2020 to 2021.

  8. Links to 2018 to 2019 16 to 19 funding guidance documents have been added.

  9. Information for institutions for academic year 2018 to 2019 has been added.

  10. Information added about new clauses in the 2017 to 2018 post-16 funding agreements and contracts in respect of requirements to report safeguarding incidents.

  11. The sub-contracting controls 2016 to 2017 section has been updated

  12. information on ILR funding return for 2015 to 2016 has been added

  13. 2014 to 2015 Sub Contracting guidance added

  14. First published.

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