Mastering Post-16 Funding

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.