Paul Hanks (Pro16 Plus Limited) leads this session.

Audience: The session is suitable for Secondary School Senior Leaders, Heads of Sixth Form, and colleagues who are responsible for Post 16 Funding.

This training provides a structured walk-through of the essential elements that shape post-16 funding, ensuring you maximise resources while remaining fully compliant.

The session will explore:

• Funding Rules & Formula: Understand the evolution of the current system and the logic behind how rules are applied.
• ESFA Funding Rules: A deep dive into current requirements and a "heads-up" on common risks and issues identified during recent audits.
• Data-Driven Funding: How Census and ILR data feed directly into calculations. We cover retention, funding bands, planned hours, and cost weightings.
• Programmes of Study: Balancing learning aims and qualification activity with non-qualification hours to design fully compliant programs.
• The Learning Agreement: What must be included, why it matters, and how it supports funding assurance.
• The T Level Shift: A specific breakdown of how T Level funding, delivery, and data requirements diverge from standard 16–19 programs.
• Bursary & Audit: Guidelines for the correct application of bursary funding and strategies to prepare for audit with total confidence.

Delivered by Stephen Burnage

Steve Burnage FCCT FRSA M.Ed is an experienced education consultant, author and fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching with over 35 years’ experience in teaching and leadership.

This intensive afternoon workshop provides Leaders and Governors with a robust framework for navigating the legalities of the Education Act while mastering the art of de-escalation.

Who Should Attend?

Specifically designed for Leadership, Governors and Trustees.

Core Areas of Focus:

• The Legal and Cultural Framework: A "Policy Health Check" on statutory duties (Education Act 2002/Equality Act 2010) and the "Two-Click" accessibility rule.
• The 3 A’s Framework: Acknowledge, Action, and Advise—the formula for resolving 99% of concerns at the informal stage.
• Mastering Investigations: Planning robust formal investigations that stand up to external scrutiny.
• Strategic Root-Cause Analysis: Using the "5 Whys" technique to link complaint data directly to your School Improvement Plan (SIP)