The funding shortfall in Sixth Form Education – January 2024

education||0
Practice area: Education and Labour Markets
Client: Sixth Form Colleges Association
Published: 26 January, 2024
Keywords: economics of education 2024 Public Policy Secondary Education
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London Economics were commissioned by the Sixth Form Colleges Association to analyse the funding shortfall in sixth form (16-19) education in Sixth Form Colleges, focusing on projected funding needs per learner for the 2025-26 academic year.

The key findings are as follows.

 

 

Compared to current 16-19 funding in 2023-24, by 2025-26, and accounting for inflation forecasts as well as potential teacher and support staff pay awards:

  • £410 of additional funding per 16-19 learner per year would be needed to ensure that funding in 2025-26 remains the same (in real terms) as current funding levels in 2023-24.
  • £710 of additional funding per learner per year would be required to widen the curriculum by increasing non-qualification and student support time to make sure that every student receives the education and support that they need. This includes the above £410 to ensure that current funding remains the same in real terms, and an additional £300 to widen the curriculum.
  • £1,760 of additional funding per learner per year would be needed to widen and deepen the curriculum by further increasing weekly taught qualification time by an additional 2.5 hours per learner, in line with the Government’s proposals for the new Advanced British Standard (on top of the increase in non-qualification and student support time under the widened curriculum). This includes the above £410 to ensure that current funding remains the same in real terms, the above £300 to widen the curriculum, and an additional £1,040 to deepen the curriculum.