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

ESFA today (31 Oct) updated their information for further education and sixth-form colleges when directly enrolling 14- to 16-year-olds for academic year 2017 to 2018.

General further education colleges and sixth-form colleges (colleges) are able to enrol and receive funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) for students aged 14- to 16-years-old. These students complete full-time study programmes that include high-quality vocational qualifications alongside general qualifications, including English and mathematics, within the Key Stage 4 curriculum.

Their guide explains college and student eligibility criteria, the statutory duties and other requirements colleges must follow, funding arrangements, intervention and performance measures, and data collection and publication requirements.

The guide is for:

• college leaders and governing bodies
• school leaders and governing bodies
• local authorities
• parents/carers and students

Existing arrangements for admitting 14- to 16-year-olds by arrangement with schools, local authorities or parents/carers will continue and are not affected by this guidance. The funding arrangements for electively home-educated children are also summarised in this guide.