Further education and sixth-form colleges are able to enrol and receive funding from the ESFA for students aged 14 to 16 years old. These students complete full-time study programmes that include technical qualifications alongside general qualifications, including English and mathematics, within the Key Stage 4 curriculum. Some requirements for 14-16 funding:

Some requirements for 14-16 funding:

The amount of funding available is dictated by a complex formula, (found here) and the programme weighting for each ESB qualification can be found in The Hub. Contact your college funding team to find out how much funding you can draw down for our qualifications.

The ESFA funds schools, academies, colleges and independent learning providers who deliver Ofqual regulated qualifications to 16-19 year olds. They calculate funding using the 16 to 19 national funding formula, which is driven by student recruitment and includes factors including:

The 16-19 how it works page includes further information about each element within the 16 to 19 national funding formula. For more information on the funding rules for 16-19 year-olds, click on the following this link.

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) funds learners aged 19+ in England for approved qualifications that are regulated by Ofqual.

The ESFA manages the majority of these contracts, with the exception of devolved authorities, where funding is managed at a local level.

The devolved areas include:

The ESFA provides further guidance on funding in developed areas here.

Key funding information relating to AEB funding for ESOL qualifications:

AEB Funding Rules

ESFA Funding Approval Principles

The European Social Fund (ESF) is part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme for Englan. The Programme’s priorities are to increase labour market participation, promote social inclusion, and develop the skills of the potential and existing workforce.

Colleges and training organisations that deliver higher level skills training through the ESF can ask us to include qualifications and/or their components in the European Social Fund (ESF) qualification offer. These qualifications and/or units must be in Ofqual’s Register of Regulated Qualifications, and must be at level 3 or level 4.

For more information, please follow this link.

For further information, please contact us.