16 to 19 funding: maths and English condition of funding
Information for institutions on maths and English condition of funding.
Context
Achieving a level 2 qualification, and in particular a GCSE grade 9 to 4 or A* to C, in both maths and English helps students to progress to further study, training and skilled employment. The maths and English condition of funding ensures that all 16 to 19 year olds have the best chance of achieving this standard, and get the necessary support to do so.
Latest updates
Changes for academic year 2019 to 2020
We have made a change to our maths and English condition of funding guidance that will apply from academic year 2019 to 2020.
The change means that students with a grade 2 or below in maths or English can study towards a pass in functional skills level 2 (legacy or reformed) or they can still study towards a GCSE grade 9 to 4. Once they have achieved this, there is no requirement to undertake further maths or English qualifications to meet the condition of funding.
Full time students with a grade 3 must still study an eligible GCSE qualification in order to meet the condition of funding.
Part time students with a grade 3 can still study any qualification approved to meet the condition of funding as a stepping stone towards achieving a GCSE grade 9 to 4.
This adjustment allows providers and students with prior attainment of GCSE grade 2 and below, to choose which level 2 qualification is most appropriate.
We will continue to apply the current tolerance level of 5% until further notice. More information on the tolerance is in the section below applying a tolerance to allocations.
We have updated the information on 19+ continuing students. More information is in the section below, guidance on particular student circumstances.
Summary
Students must study maths and/or English as part of their programme in each academic year. This applies to students:
- aged 16 to 18 and 19 to 25 with an education, health and care (EHC) plan who do not hold a GCSE grade 9 to 4, A* to C (a standard pass grade) or equivalent qualification in these subjects
- doing a programme of 150 hours or more, which started on or after 1 August 2014
This requirement is a condition of funding for all students on 16 to 19 study programmes and is part of the funding regulations. It also forms part of institutions’ contracts with the ESFA. We will remove funding from future allocations for students who do not meet the condition of funding. The other elements of the funding formula are not affected.
The qualifications that meet the condition of funding are GCSEs and ‘stepping stone’ qualifications. Qualifications that meet the condition of funding have a record in the Learning Aim Reference Service (LARS) database that sets out how long they are valid for.
From academic year 2019 to 2020, students with a grade 2 or below in maths or English can study towards a pass in functional skills level 2 (legacy or reformed) or they can still study towards a GCSE grade 9 to 4. Once they have achieved this, there is no requirement to undertake further maths or English qualifications to meet the condition of funding.
Full time students with a grade 3 must still study an eligible GCSE qualification in order to meet the condition of funding.
Part time students with a grade 3 can still study any qualification approved to meet the condition of funding as a stepping stone towards achieving a GCSE grade 9 to 4.
This adjustment allows providers and students with prior attainment of GCSE grade 2 and below, to choose which level 2 qualification is most appropriate.
Students with a pass grade in maths or English functional skills level 2 (legacy or reformed) should be recorded in the individualised learner record (ILR) and school census as follows:
ILR (from academic year 2019 to 2020)
For English, record FAM Type ECF and code 5 (learner holds a pass grade for functional skills level 2 in English)
OR
For maths, record FAM Type MCF and code 5 (learner holds a pass grade for functional skills level 2 in mathematics)
School census (from Autumn 2019)
For English, record code F in the English GCSE funding exemption field
OR
For maths, record code F in the Maths GCSE funding exemption field
Progress measures
We include a headline progress measure in performance tables to recognise the progress that students make in maths and English. This holds schools and colleges to account for the progress of students in maths and English. We align the methodology of this progress measure as closely as possible with the condition of funding rules. We publish any revisions to the measure in the Technical Guide: 16 to 19 accountability headline measures.
Qualifications approved for teaching to 16 to 19 year olds who meet the condition of funding
To meet the condition of funding, a student has to study an approved qualification. These are GCSEs and certain other qualifications, known as ‘stepping stone’ qualifications. Full time students who have a GCSE grade 3 or grade D must study a maths and/or English GCSE.
Stepping stone qualifications include:
- functional skills at level 2 and below
- English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and
- other qualifications nominated by institutions and approved by the department
Qualifications that meet the condition have a validity record in LARS. Institutions must check the status of qualifications using LARS before enrolling students to ensure the qualification is approved and valid at the time of enrolment.
Qualifying periods
Students have to pass a qualifying period for each maths and English qualification before it counts. The qualifying period is:
- 6 weeks for a qualification with a planned length of 24 weeks or more
- 2 weeks for a qualification with a planned length of less than 24 weeks
Students meet the condition of funding when they are studying for a qualification. It is up to institutions to decide when they are ready to take the exam.
Students withdrawing from their study programme
Where a student has enrolled on a maths and/or English qualification that meets the condition of funding but does not complete it, provided they have studied the qualification for the qualifying period, they will still meet the condition of funding. If a student’s core aim was maths and/or English and the student drops out entirely then funding is reduced through the retention factor in the usual way. We have published further information on core aims in programmes in the rates and formula guidance.
Notes on individual qualification types
- students will not be able to re-sit the old maths and English GCSEs (those with letter grades) after summer 2017
- English language qualifications meet the condition of funding, however dual English literature and language qualifications and single English literature qualifications do not meet the condition of funding; however, they do continue to count as equivalent to GCSEs for the purposes of recognising prior attainment
- international GCSEs no longer meet the condition of funding; however, they do continue to count as equivalent to GCSEs for the purposes of recognising prior attainment
- holding the International Certificate in Christian Education (ICCE) exempts a student from further study in maths and English; when students have achieved an ICCE, institutions can record an exemption for holding an overseas equivalent qualification
What students can and must study
A summary of what qualifications students must be studying is below.
For the purposes of the condition, full time and part time are defined as:
- full time: 540 hours or more for 16 to 17 year olds, or 450 hours or more for those 18 and older
- part time: between 150 and 539 hours aged 16 to 17 year olds, and between 150 and 450 hours for those 18 and older
| Student | Programme (all types, including traineeships) | What a student must study to meet the condition of funding |
|---|---|---|
| All students | Short programmes (less than 150 hours) | Condition of funding does not apply |
| GCSE grade 3 or grade D or overseas qualification at the equivalent grade | Full time | GCSE |
| GCSE grade 3 or grade D or overseas qualification at the equivalent grade | Part time | Any qualification approved to meet the condition |
| GCSE grade 2 or below, grade E or below or overseas qualification at the equivalent grade or no GCSE | Full time or part time | Any qualification approved to meet the condition. Functional skills level 2 pass and GCSE 9 to 4 will meet the condition with no requirement to undertake further English/maths qualifications |
| Overseas qualification GCSE grade 9 to 4/A* to C equivalent | Full time or part time | Exemption applies |
| EHC plan AND institution assessment that confirms they are not able to study either GCSE or stepping stone qualifications | Full time or part time | Exemption applies |
| EHC plan with NO assessment | Full time or part time | Any qualification approved to meet the condition; the student is not exempt from the condition |
Prior attainment with GCSE English Literature and GCSE English Language
| English language GCSE grade held | English literature GCSE grade held | What student can and must study |
|---|---|---|
| 9 to 4 or A* to C | 9 to 4 or A* to C | Condition of funding met for English, no requirement to continue studying subject |
| 9 to 4 or A* to C | 3 or below, D or below, No grade | Condition of funding met for English, no requirement to continue studying subject |
| 3 or below, D or below, No grade | 9 to 4 or A* to C | Condition of funding met for English, no requirement to continue study of subject |
| 3 or D | 3 or D | GCSE English language only |
| 3 or D | 2 or below, E or below, No grade | GCSE English language only |
| 2 or below, E or below, No grade | 3 or D | Any qualification approved to meet the condition. Functional skills level 2 pass and GCSE English language 9 to 4 will meet the condition with no requirement to undertake further English/maths qualifications |
| 2 or below, E or below, No grade | 2 or below, E or below, No grade | Any qualification approved to meet the condition. Functional skills level 2 pass and GCSE 9 to 4 will meet the condition with no requirement to undertake further English/maths qualifications |
Level 3 qualifications
A range of level 3 maths and English qualifications such as A and AS levels, core maths, Pre-U and the International Baccalaureate can be taught as an alternative to GCSE when it is appropriate for the student.
Students retaking maths and English qualifications
A retake is defined as a qualification retaken by a student, including learning and attending lessons other than revision lessons. Students are funded to retake maths and/or English until they achieve a GCSE grade 9 to 4.
Prior attainment
Students meet the condition of funding when they have already achieved GCSE grade 9 to 4 or A* to C in maths, and in English language, English literature, or English language and literature.
We treat some qualifications in maths, English language, English literature, and English language and literature as equivalent to GCSE grade 9 to 4 or A* to C. This means that students who have studied in England or elsewhere who hold the following qualifications do not have to study maths and/or English to meet the condition of funding:
- international GCSEs, regulated or unregulated, or equivalent level 1/level 2 certificates grade A* to C/9 to 4
- GCSEs grade A* to C, obtained in Wales, including maths numeracy
- GCSEs grade A* to C, obtained in Northern Ireland
- Scottish Intermediate 2 certificates grade A to C
- Scottish Standard Grades (credit level) grade 1 to 2
- Scottish National 5 certificates grade A to C
- international O levels grade A* to C
- A and AS levels at any pass grade
- full International Baccalaureate (IB) level 3 Diploma (LARS reference 50034157)
- International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme
- International Baccalaureate Certificate in maths
- core maths qualifications at level 3
International GCSEs for the purpose of recognising prior attainment
International GCSEs, regulated or unregulated, or equivalent level 1/level 2 certificates in maths and English all count as equivalent to GCSEs for the purposes of recognising prior attainment in the 16 to 19 maths and English condition of funding.
Students who hold these qualifications in maths and English at GCSE grade 9 to 4 or A* to C will not have to continue their study of these subjects.
Overseas qualifications
Students who have achieved an overseas qualification that is equivalent to a GCSE in maths and/or English language are exempt from the condition of funding.
Guidance on particular student circumstances
19+ continuing students
19+ continuing students are now all funded through the standard ESFA 16 to 19 allocations process. The condition of funding in maths and English did not apply to 19+ continuing students in FE colleges and independent learning providers previously, and does not apply to these students in the 2019 to 2020 academic year (which will impact on 2021 to 2022 allocations). We will review the application of the condition of funding to these students for future years.
Home-educated students
A student who has previously been home educated and wishes to continue their education at an FE institution must comply with the condition of funding.
Students who speak limited English studying maths qualifications
A student who speaks limited English will still need to have maths in their programme, at a suitable level. This could be phased into the programme as their ability in English improves. For example, a student could study an ESOL qualification in the first term and enrol on a maths qualification in the second term.
Students on short study programmes
To ensure those that want to study short courses are not discouraged from doing so, there is flexibility for those on small part time programmes of less than 150 planned hours. Students on these programmes do not have to study maths and English qualifications approved for the condition of funding. However, we expect institutions to include some maths and English content in programmes taken by such students to facilitate their learning.
Students achieving a GCSE or equivalent outside of their study programme
If a student achieves a GCSE grade 9 to 4, A* to C or a qualification deemed as equivalent by other means, then they will have met the condition of funding for the remainder of their programme. This also applies to students with prior attainment of GCSE grade 2 who pass functional skills level 2. Institutions must make sure that they record the achievement grade in the data return, to tell us that the student has met the condition of funding.
Students on traineeship programmes
Students on traineeship programme are subject to the condition of funding in the same way as students on other programmes. However, the condition of funding grade 3 or grade D requirement does not apply to traineeships as they are all treated as part time students.
Students on apprenticeship programmes
Apprenticeship programmes are not subject to the maths and English condition of funding. However, similar requirements are in place to ensure all apprentices have good literacy and numeracy skills.
Students on supported internships
Students on supported internships are not automatically exempt from the condition of funding. Some students on internships may meet the criteria to be exempt from the condition. Students on supported internships with an exemption should still be studying maths and English at an appropriate level, even when they are not able to work towards a stepping stone qualification or GCSE.
Exemptions to the condition of funding
There are 2 exemptions to the condition of funding:
- students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), who are assessed as not able to study either GCSE or stepping stone qualification
- students with overseas qualifications that are established as equivalent to GCSE grade 4 or grade C
Students with SEND exemption
Where a student with SEND does not hold a GCSE grade 9 to 4, A* to C or equivalent qualification in maths and/or English, an institution may decide that it is not appropriate for them to study for a GCSE or a stepping stone qualification. In this case, in addition to the student’s EHC plan, the institution must hold an evidenced assessment that the student is not able to study these subjects.
All exemptions must be considered on a case by case basis. There is no blanket exemption for whole institutions.
Assessments for exemptions must be authorised by an appropriate professional in the institution, such as the head of SEND or student support. The assessment should be structured and documented. We do not expect to give further detailed advice on the format or on who should conduct the assessment. This is for institutions to decide. Exemptions will be monitored from the data institutions submit rather than on an individual basis.
Institutions should keep evidence that justifies their decision that a student is exempt. This information must be available to auditors appointed to test the use of ESFA funding and to Ofsted inspectors.
When a student with SEND does not hold a GCSE grade 9 to 4, A* to C or equivalent qualification in maths and/or English, every effort should be made to enable them to achieve these valuable qualifications. Students with SEND and who have achieved a GCSE grade 3, grade D or equivalent qualification in maths and/or English should be capable of improving their GCSE grade with the right teaching and support.
When a student is not able to study a GCSE, institutions should support them in studying a stepping stone qualification. There are a range of qualifications available for students from entry level upwards. Institutions can enrol a student on a course for up to 3 years, or longer if the student is in learning to age 25. This range of qualifications gives institutions scope to offer the student opportunities to progress to the appropriate level in maths and English.
There are a small number of students who are not able to take any qualifications. These students are exempt from studying qualifications but appropriate literacy and numeracy should still be included in their programme at an appropriate level.
We expect institutions to use the flexibilities available to tailor programmes to enable each student to improve in maths and/or English to the best of their ability. Institutions should recognise and record students’ progress and achievement.
Students with overseas qualifications exemption
Students who have studied in a country that does not provide GCSEs are potentially exempt from the condition of funding where the overseas qualifications they hold are equivalent to GCSE grade 4 or grade C.
Institutions must get confirmation from the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) that the qualification is equivalent to GCSE grade 9 to 4 or A* to C. NARIC is the UK’s national agency responsible for providing information and opinion on academic, vocational and professional qualifications from across the world.
As well as confirmation from NARIC that an overseas qualification is equivalent to GCSE grade 4 or grade C, institutions also have to ensure that the student possesses the necessary competence in maths and English to achieve their programme. If the student needs additional teaching or support to function on their programme, institutions must include it in the programme. This kind of activity is eligible for funding and should be included in the planned hours.
Students who have achieved the International Certificate in Christian Education (ICCE) do not have to study maths and English, as the ICCE is equivalent to a standard pass in maths and English. When students have achieved an ICCE, institutions can record an exemption for holding an overseas equivalent qualification. They do not have to get the equivalence certified by NARIC.
Recording and monitoring of exemptions and prior attainment
To avoid funding being withdrawn unnecessarily, institutions must record exemptions in their data returns. It is also good practice for institutions to note exemptions in their own records.
There is no need to inform ESFA that a student is out of scope for the maths and English condition of funding because they are studying for less than 150 hours in the academic year.
ILR returns use funding and monitoring (FAM) codes to show when a student qualifies for one of 2 exemptions. The same FAM field shows when the student meets the condition of funding by holding a UK qualification or by studying maths/English at another institution.
School census returns use a set of letter codes to record the same information.
| ILR FAM code | School census code | |
|---|---|---|
| Learner is exempt from GCSE maths/English condition of funding due to a learning difficulty | ECF (English condition of funding)/MCF (maths condition of funding) 1 | L (the same code is used in the English and maths fields) |
| Learner is exempt from the condition of funding as they hold an equivalent overseas qualification | ECF/MCF 2 | O |
| Learner has met the condition of funding as they hold an equivalent UK qualification | ECF/MCF 3 | U |
| Learner has met the condition of funding by undertaking/completing a valid maths/English GCSE or equivalent qualification at another institution through collaboration with the home institution | ECF/MCF 4 | No code available |
Collaboration between institutions to ensure students are meeting the maths and English condition of funding
When institutions collaborate to deliver maths and/or English, one institution must be responsible for claiming funding for a student’s whole programme, and making sure that they meet the condition of funding. Wherever possible, institutions must avoid enrolling and claiming funding for part of a student’s programme.
However, in a small number of cases, students study for maths and/or English with another institution. In these circumstances the home institution must make sure that students meet the condition of funding.
For institutions that return the ILR
To avoid being penalised for students not meeting the condition of funding, institutions must use the FAM code ECF/MCF 4. Institutions must only use this code when students are studying maths and/or English qualifications at another institution.
For institutions that return the school census
The school census does not have the capacity to show that students are studying maths and/or English qualifications at another institution. Therefore schools must submit a business case for an adjustment to their funding after they have received their allocation statement.
The business case must include this information:
- the numbers of students who have studied or retaken a maths and/or English qualification at another institution (we do not need individual student data such as unique pupil numbers (UPNs) and names)
- the name of the other institution(s) where they have studied
- the maths and/or English qualifications studied
- a statement that collaboration has taken place with brief details
- accounting officer confirmation that the information is correct
Demonstrating progression
Institutions must be able to demonstrate progression for students enrolled on maths and/or English qualifications. In most cases, we expect that it will be appropriate for students to study for a qualification at a higher level than they have already attained, rather than just improving their grade at the same level as their previous achievement.
When a student is studying for a qualification at the same level as a previous achievement, institutions must have evidence of why the qualification is the best choice for the student.
Audit and inspection
Institutions will be subject to risk-based compliance audit to ensure the data submitted for maths and English participation and prior attainment and evidence for exemptions are sound. On inspection, Ofsted will establish that students are on the most suitable study programme and that any exemptions from studying maths and English are appropriate.
Auditors appointed to test the use of ESFA funding will check when institutions claim a student is exempt to ensure the exemption reason is valid. Institutions must ensure that they keep adequate evidence when they apply either of the 2 exemptions. The ESFA will monitor how institutions use exemptions.
Applying a tolerance to allocations
We have decided to continue to apply tolerance level of 5% until further notice, in recognition of the continued efforts of institutions to deliver the 16 to 19 maths and English policy. We expect that the clarity over the level of tolerance in future years will provide institutions with increased certainty on which to plan.
We will apply funding reductions for non-compliance with the condition of funding to institutions where more than 5% of students (calculated by value) without a GCSE grade 9 to 4 or A* to C in maths and/or English did not enrol on an approved qualification in these subjects. The funding reductions for these institutions will be applied at half the national funding rate above the tolerance.
An example of how the funding deduction is calculated
We will apply funding reductions to institutions above a tolerance of 5% of total students (calculated by value) for students who do not meet the condition of funding. We will remove funding for these institutions for each student above the tolerance level at half the national funding rate.
The 5% tolerance is calculated by determining the value of the non-compliant students and expressing this as a percentage of the total value of all students. The value for a student is the national rate for their funding band.
For students who are non-compliant above the tolerance, we will remove funding at a reduced rate of 50% of the 2017 to 2018 national funding rate for the band. We will only remove funding above the 5% tolerance. The example below describes how we calculated funding reductions relating to the 2015 to 2016 academic year.
Stage 1
To calculate the value of non-compliance (E), the number of non-compliant students from end year 2015 to 2016 data (C) was multiplied by the appropriate national funding rate (A) according to their total planned hours. Values for students in the 0-279 band was calculated as a proportion of the full time national rate based on their total planned hours divided by 600.
Stage 2
To calculate the total value of 2015 to 2016 students (D), the total number of students in each band (B) was multiplied by the appropriate national funding rate (A). Data was from the final return of the ILR or the autumn census for the 2015 to 2016 academic year.In the example below the value of non-compliant students (E) is £676,098; the value of all students (D) is £8,266,920. This is non-compliance of 8.17%.
| A | B | C | D (B x A) | E (C x A) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding band | National rate for 2017 to 2018 | 2015 to 2016 total students per band | 2015 to 2016 non-compliant students | National rate per student: value of all students | National rate per student value of non-compliant students |
| Full time students (at least 540 hours) | £4,000 | 1,207 | 94 | £4,828,000 | £376,000 |
| Full time students 450+ | £3,300 | 88 | 27 | £290,400 | £89,100 |
| Part time students (450-539 hours) | £3,300 | 765 | 45 | £2,524,500 | £148,500 |
| Part time students (360-449 hours) | £2,700 | 124 | 21 | £334,800 | £56,700 |
| Part time students (280-359 hours) | £2,133 | 60 | 1 | £127,980 | £2,133 |
| Part time (up to 279 hours) | £4,000 | 132 | 3 | – | – |
| Part time (up to 279 hours) – FTE | £4,000 | 40.31 | 0.92 | £161,240 | £3,665 |
| 2,376 | 191 | £8,266,920 | £676,098 |
Stage 3
We calculated 5% of the total value for all students at the national funding rate (D) to calculate the financial value of the tolerance (F). The tolerance is then discounted from (E) the condition of funding reduction to calculate the in scope reduction (G). The final reduction (H) is then calculated by taking 50% of (G) of the in scope reduction.
| F | G | H |
|---|---|---|
| 5% of 2015 to 2016 national rate per student funding (D x 5%) | Non-compliant students total less 5% (E – F) | Final condition of funding removal at 50% (G x 50%) |
| (£8,266,920 x 5%) = £413,346 | (£676,098 – £413,346) = £262,752 | (£262,752 x 50%) = £131,376 |
In this example the tolerance (F) is £413,346, the reduction in scope (G) is £262,752, and the final reduction is £131,376. If the value of non-compliant students in this example (E) was less than £413,346 the institution had no withdrawal of funding.
Other useful information
Resources
We have published an interactive tool for the school census to help users to understand how the condition of funding works within the census. It provides specific examples of how to check qualifications that do not meet the condition of funding and the impact this will have when non-compliant or out of date qualifications are included.
When you return your autumn census, which includes the post-16 module, 2 reports on the condition of funding are available through Collect (one for the current funding year, and one for the previous year). We have published guidance on the reports.
The Funding Information System (FIS) will help further education (FE) providers validate their ILR data. The reports available through FIS gives the maths and English status of every student, showing whether they have achieved at least a GCSE grade 4/or grade C in each subject and whether they are currently studying for a valid qualification in the subject. The reports also show those students recorded as exempt from the condition of funding.
The Education Training Foundation (ETF) offers a range of opportunities and resources for teachers, trainers and leaders to support practitioners to confidently teach maths and English.
The Excellence Gateway provides a wide range of resources for teaching maths and English.
Queries on the condition of funding
ESFA enquiries
Contact formhttps://form.education…
For all enquiries for the Education and Skills Funding Agency
For all enquiries for the Education and Skills Funding Agency
Published 4 December 2014
Last updated 28 May 2020 + show all updates
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We have updated our guidance on prior attainment for 2020 to 2021
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Updated to include link to condition of funding interactive tool
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We have made a change to our maths and English condition of funding guidance that will apply from academic year 2019 to 2020.
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We have updated the condition of funding information on 19+ continuing students.
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General update, links updated, page structure updated.
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This has been updated to show the update on tolerance.
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Page updated for 2017 to 2018 academic year
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Information added about the maths & English condition of funding questionnaire on barriers to meeting the condition of funding.
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Updated to include information about condition of funding tolerance.
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This has been updated to show the extension to the timetable for final legacy GCSEs and IGCSE re-sits and re-takes.
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General update and new information added on institutions that have worked collaboratively with another institution to ensure their students meet the condition of funding.
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Update information added on how the grade D requirement applies with respect to GCSE English qualifications held.
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Additional information on the impact 2016 to 2017 academic year allocations has been added and a general update.
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Additional information updated to reflect the recent announcement on a good pass for the new GCSEs.
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amendment to flowchart
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Updated version added
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First published.
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