In late July the government announced that significant changes were being made to the above and letters have been sent to ‘stakeholders’. This has caused some confusion as to the situation regarding school sixth forms. The following, taken from the YPLA’s website should clarify this matter.
“The secretary of state has announced changes to the funding system for 16-19 education and training*.
Local authorities’ crucial strategic role to meet the needs of young people and identify gaps in provision is reaffirmed. However, the new system will cut back on planning points in the allocations process, including the need for detailed annual statements and plans by YPLA and local authorities, and cut out the requirement on colleges for detailed planning submissions in order to access funding.
The process for agreeing allocations for the academic year 2011/12, described in the National Commissioning Framework (published in April 2010) has therefore been withdrawn, and will be replaced by a significantly simplified allocations system. We will involve all partners in the implementation of the new system. In particular, we will work closely with local authorities to ensure that they are able to fulfill their responsibilities to influence and shape provision, identify gaps, enable new provision and develop the market.
To simplify arrangements the YPLA is to directly fund general further education colleges, sixth form colleges and other providers. Maintained school sixth forms will continue to receive their funding through the local authority and Apprenticeship providers will continue to receive their funding through the Skills Funding Agency.
For the academic year 2010/11, allocations to all providers were agreed earlier this year, and we will now put in place arrangements to make the agreed payments.”
To summarise the key points, maintained sixth forms will receive funding from Local Authorities whilst other providers, including sixth form colleges, will receive their funding directly from the YPLA.
The Association is anxious to receive information about problems with post 16 funding and members are requested to share concerns with Sion Humphreys (
sionh@naht.org.uk) The matter is an agenda item for September’s Secondary Committee meeting and is likely to also be November’s agenda. Information to inform discussion will be gratefully received.
In late July the government announced that significant changes were being made to the above and letters have been sent to ‘stakeholders’. This has caused some confusion as to the situation regarding school sixth forms. The following, taken from the YPLA’s website should clarify this matter.
