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14-16 Provision

sketch of a building to represent 14-16 provision
  • 14-16 provision is an option for children aged in this bracket to access education via an alternative route other than at a mainstream school. 

  • This option can be made available at colleges, although it is worth noting that it is not a requirement that every college offers this provision, therefore you will need to speak to your local college to find out if they have this option. 

  • Colleges must inform the Department for Education (DfE) of their intent to offer 14-16 provision to apply for acceptance. 

  • Prior to submitting intent, colleges are expected to discuss offering this provision with their local authority. Once this has been done, the college principal along with the chair of governors can submit an expression of intent alongside a document called the readiness-to-open checklist

  • Colleges, once accepted to provide this offer to 14-16 year olds, will be given funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for the places offered. 

  • Colleges must be rated either 'outstanding' or 'good' from Ofsted in order to secure funding to be able to offer this provision 

  • Colleges must provide a dedicated space for their 14-16 students on campus. While some learning may take place in other areas of the college, a dedicated space must be made available for the education and support of the 14-16 students. 

  • There must be an individual who is qualified and clearly idenitifed as the 14-16 provision and support person. 

  • Colleges must publish their admission criteria and 14-16 offer on their website, and they are not allowed to charge for admission. 

  • Colleges do not have to teach the National Curriculum but must offer and broad and balanced education.

  • Colleges providing 14-16 provision must include English , Maths and Science as their core education. 

  • If a college enrols a student who is home-educated, they can do so only on part time courses. If a student is enrolled on a full time course, they are no longer classed as home-educated and become the responsibility of the college. 

For more information:

Full-time enrolment of 14 to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges: 2023 to 2024 academic year

Funding Regulations

The Education Act 1996

Firther and Higher Education Act 1992

The Education (Secondary Education in Further Education Institutions) Regulations 1999

ESFA: funding rules, rates and formula

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