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Action: Register to deliver T Level and T Level foundation year study programmes for academic year 2026 to 2027

For post-16 providers not currently delivering T Levels, this is the final opportunity to register your T Level and T Level foundation year delivery intentions for academic year 2026 to 2027 and be eligible to receive implementation planning support, and upfront 16 to 19 participation funding allocation for T Levels.Ìý

You will need a DfE sign-in account to register and only providers offering T Levels for the first time should apply.Ìý

You can register by accessing the registration portal and supporting guidance.Ìý

The registration portal will close at midnight on 21 March 2025. We will not be able to accept applications after this date.

If you have any enquiries about the registration process, or want to confirm you are registered, you can do so by checking the T Level provider list, or contact us by emailing the [email protected] mailbox quoting your organisation’s name and UKPRN in the subject header.

Information: 16 to 19 funding arrangements for academic year 2025 to 2026

We have published details on how 16 to 19 funding will work for academic year 2025 to 2026 and confirmed the timeline for delivering allocations. We aim to issue the majority of allocations by the end of April 2025.

All the national funding rates for students on 16 to 19 study programmes and T Levels will increase by 3.78% in academic year 2025 to 2026. This means a full-time study programme student will attract a rate of £5,026, with T Level students attracting higher rates due to these being larger programmes.

In total we will be spending over £400 million more on 16 to 19 education in financial year 2025 to 2026 to ensure enough funding is available given the very significant increase in student numbers and other pressures on the system.

If you have any questions after reading our guidance, please contact our .

Information: 16 to 19 in-year growth funding for academic year 2024 to 2025

There has been a very large increase in 16 to 19 funded students this year. This growth is positive for the many young people who have been able to take up opportunities for 16 to 19 education and represents a strong response by the sector.Ìý

However, because of the size and distribution of this growth in student numbers, it does create an unprecedented amount of in- year growth. The current growth is significantly above the budget available for in-year payments. We are changing our funding methodology for this year’s in-year growth to provide you with the highest possible funding available within our budget.  �

We will provide approximately two-thirds of the funding expected based on arrangements published in August 2024.Ìý 

This change applies to the exceptional in-year growth for student numbers only. We are not changing the methodology for: 

• high needs in-year growth in special post-16 institutions or centrally funded exceptions

• bursary and free meals in-year growth 

We have always stated that our method depends on affordability. If you have concerns regarding the impact of this change and need to discuss this, please contact your place-based team contact orâ€�.Ìý

We will notify all institutions with growth awards by the end of March and start to make payments in May 2025.Ìý

We will also notify all institutions affected by the T Level reconciliation via email by the end of March 2025. Institutions also affected by 16 to 19 in-year growth awards will receive one revised allocation statement, which will include both the outcomes of the T Level reconciliation and the in-year growth award.

Information: Post-16 budget grant for April to July 2025

We have announced a one-off post-16 budget grant. This new grant will be paid to schools, academies, further education colleges and sixth-form colleges from April 2025.

We aim to publish further information on the grant in May 2025, to include the:

• methodology for calculating the grant
• institutional level funding allocations
• conditions of grant

This grant will stop at the end of academic year 2024 to 2025. For academic year 2025 to 2026, we have brought the grant into the national funding rate which will be the same for all institutions with a 16 to 19 allocation.

Information: 16 to 19 subcontracting data for academic year 2022 to 2023

We have published the 16 to 19 subcontracting data for the academic year 2022 to 2023. This publication includes subcontracting data for FE institutions, and schools and academies funded by ESFA. It is based on the R14 individualised learner record (ILR) return produced by FE institutions, and the autumn census return for schools and academies.

Information: Update to post-16 subcontracting exemption forms for 2025 to 2026 requests

The Department for Education post-16 forms for 2025 to 2026 exemption requests for distance subcontracting, whole programme subcontracting and subcontracting over the 25% threshold, are currently under review and will not be ready for publication until the end of March 2025.

We ask providers not to request the forms before the end of March � we will notify you when the new forms are ready.

Due to this delay, the deadline to return exemption requests will be extended to 31 May 2025 to allow time for completion.

Thank you for your patience as we update this process.

Information: Changes to the financial statements submissions process for independent training providers, special post-16 institutions and non-maintained special schools

As of March 2025, we will be contacting a number of organisations whose financial statements are due to be submitted to us from May 2025 onwards. This is to participate, support and work with us on the private beta testing of the new financial submission process and data capture portal.

Organisations will be selected at random and notified individually.

If you are selected, we will offer support during the completion and submission process. We will also be seeking feedback on your engagement with the system. This will help us further develop the system and improve the experience for yourself and all users prior to its full launch.

If you are selected, we hope you will find this experience positive and beneficial.

Information: Your Apprenticeship app has launched   

We have launched the app. This is a simple-to-use hub for apprentices to be able to manage their tasks and is available to download in and .

How can apprentices use the app?

Throughout their apprenticeship they can use it to:

• create tasks, add reminders and set deadlines â€� allowing them to manage their apprenticeship all in one place, and on the go
• track their apprenticeship progress â€� so they know what needs to be done before their end-point assessment (EPA)
• find support and guidance â€� giving them quick access to support that can help answer their questions

We encourage you to tell your apprentices to download the app, to set them up for success as they navigate their apprenticeship journey.