If you don't teach at least four hours a week of math and three hours of English, your funding could be cut. sixth form warning
If you don't teach at least four hours a week of math and three hours of English, your funding could be cut. sixth form warning
Sixth form must be taught at least three to four hours a week to students who fail their English and maths GCSEs or risk losing funding, the government said.
The divisive “funding conditions” policy, introduced in 2014, means schools and colleges must help students who fail a grade 4 or higher to re-sit their GCSEs. Otherwise, you risk losing your funds.
Ministry of Education regulations previously did not specify a minimum number of hours of instruction for enrolled students.
However, from September 2024, full-time students will be required to study at least 3 hours of English and 4 hours of maths per week, while part-time students will be required to study at a pro rata rate.
According to the new rules, the study must be “stand-alone, whole-class, face-to-face, with additional support, such as small group instruction or online support, beyond the minimum class hours.”
Strengthening regulations from 2025
Minimum working hours rules will only become “expected” in 2024-25 to “reflect that despite best efforts, not all agencies will be able to meet them as early as September 2024.”
But from 2025 to 2026, there will be strict rules with non-compliance leading to cuts in funding.
Most current students attend further education institutions, but some study in the school's Six Form or Sixth Form College.
The changes were announced as the DfE confirmed a 1.89% increase in 16 to 18 year-old funding rates for the next academic year.
school week The DfE understands it has become concerned that schools and colleges have moved away from providing this type of teaching time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Education said the minimum classroom instruction time “reflects practices identified across a number of institutions prior to the pandemic.”
“We know that many environments are already meeting or moving back toward minimum working hours. “Our amendments will ensure that this progress is made consistently across the country, ensuring that all students receive a standard amount of instructional time.”
The DfE is also phasing out ‘tolerance’ thresholds.
The government has also announced that it will phase out the “tolerance” rule, which is the criteria for starting to cut off funding for students who do not continue to study their subjects.
Currently, schools and colleges can have their funding cut if more than 5% of students who need to retake GCSEs do not do so. Funding for each student exceeding the acceptable level will be removed at half the national funding rate.
Officials announced this week that they will change the allowance to 2.5% for the 2025-26 school year, which will impact funding allocations for the 2027-28 school year.
The tolerance will then be completely retired for the 2026-27 school year, which will impact 2028-29 allocations.
Schools Week understands the DfE made the plans amid concerns about rising rates of non-compliance.
“The aim of eliminating tolerance is to support as many students as possible to achieve Level 2 English and Maths qualifications.”