A distinct 14-19 Learning Phase
12 February 2008
Embargoed until 00.01 hours 19 February 2008
Press Release
A DISTINCT 14-19 LEARNING PHASE REQUIRES A SINGLE 14-19 FUNDING
SYSTEM
“The Government should build on the transfer of 16-19 LSC funding to Local
Authorities to create a single 14-19 funding system” argue Mark Corney and Mick
Fletcher in a pamphlet published today by the Campaign for Learning, with the support
of Select Education.
In ‘New Localism and 14-19 Funding: Putting Learner Choice First’, Corney and Fletcher
state that “A single 14-19 funding system is required to underpin a distinct 14-19
learning phase.”
When Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in June 2007, he decided that LSC funding
of 16-19 education - some £6.1bn in 2010/11 – should be transferred to Local
Authorities. Before Easter, the Government is expected to publish a consultation paper
on the future of funding for pre-19 and post-19 learning outside of higher education.
Corney and Fletcher argue that the transfer of 16-19 LSC funding was inspired by a
desire to devolve responsibilities to local government, create coherence between 3-19
education funding and the 0-19 Every Child Matters agenda, and enable Local
Authorities to meet their responsibilities for managing truancy under the new learning
leaving age provisions (raised to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015).
“However, the transfer of 16-19 LSC education funding to Local Authorities is not
the same as creating a single 14-19 funding system for a 14-19 phase. Indeed, the
realisation that the transfer creates an opportunity for such a system is emerging
very late in the day across Government” say the authors.
If the Government is to increase motivation, participation and attainment between 14 and
19, funding barriers must not prevent 14-19 year olds from choosing the best mix of
providers delivering the most interesting mix of qualifications and curriculum
opportunities.
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A distinct 14-19 Learning Phase
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A 14-19 funding system must ensure that every 14-15 year old can study in FE college
and work-based learning settings if they want to do so. Similarly, a 14-19 funding system
must ensure that every 16-19 year old can split their time between any mixture of school
sixth forms, FE colleges and work-based learning providers.
Corney and Fletcher argue: “Learner choice rather than devolution – or new
localism - should be the overriding principle behind the creation of a single 14-19
funding system.”
The pamphlet explains that the Government could have made the LSC the funding
council for 14-19 or even created a new 14-19 funding quango. “But having decided
that 16-19 LSC funding for education should be devolved to Local Authorities, the
Government must ‘trust’ Local Authorities to manage a single 14-19 funding
system on behalf of 14-19 learners.”
As things stand, 13% of 16-19 funding on tuition and training in 2010/11 (some £900m)
will not be devolved by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to Local
Authorities (see table below in Notes to Editors).
The first exception is 16-18 apprenticeships (11%). DCSF will fund the LSC for 16-18
apprenticeships which in turn will be managed by the new National Apprenticeship
Service. But Corney and Fletcher state that:
“16-18 apprenticeships are viewed by Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for
Children, Schools and Families, as the main pathway to increase participation at
17 and 18, paving the way for an increase in the learning leaving age. Yet it seems
that Local Authorities will be responsible for ‘minimising truancy’ as the learning
leaving age is increased without having responsibility for the key budget designed
to achieve it.”
The second exception is 16-19 school academy funding (2% in 2010/11). DCSF funds
school academies directly. This is unlikely to change. However, the authors argue that:
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“If a decision is taken in the context of the next general election to turn a
significant number of existing maintained secondary schools into academy
schools with DCSF funding them directly, by definition an increasing share of
14-19 funding will be outside the 14-19 funding system to be managed by Local
Authorities. Both the Government and the Opposition parties must decide whether
the 14-19 learning phase is more important than school autonomy, otherwise any
single 14-19 funding system will be seriously compromised.”
The pamphlet calls for a single 14-19 funding system covering 14-19 maintained school
funding, 14-19 school academy funding, 14-19 FE funding, 14-19 apprenticeship
funding, and 14-19 provision for pre-employment opportunities, and learning difficulties
and disabilities. Overall funding could be £14bn by 2010/11 (see chart below in Notes to
Editors). The authors estimate that “a tenth of 14-19 funding will be outside the
responsibility of Local Authorities if 14-19 apprenticeships and 14-19 school
academy provision are excluded.”
The pamphlet argues that a single 14-19 funding system should be based on a ringfenced grant which can only be spent on 14-19 education and skills. It also suggests that
14-19 funding should be allocated on the basis of ‘where learners participate rather than
where they live’ and on national rather than local rates. This will reduce the problem of
funding learners outside Local Authority areas and the need for a large scale
recoupment system.
Corney and Fletcher conclude that “These administrative principles should
maximise learner choice within the 14-19 phase. Even so, there are significant
implications for schools and the Treasury of moving to national
rates for 14-19 school provision. Currently, Local Authorities fund 14-15
secondary school provision on local rates. The move to national rates means a
levelling up by Local Authorities with lower rates of 14-15 secondary school
funding to Local Authorities with higher rates of 14-15 secondary school funding.
If the dispersion across Local Authorities is great, there could be a significant bill
to the Treasury.”
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Corney and Fletcher point out that time is pressing for the Government to negotiate a
deal over 14-19 funding with Local Authorities.
With regard to raising the learning leaving age to 17 in 2013, it is this September’s Year
7s, aged 11/12, who will be the first to need to stay-on in education and training until 17
(see table below in Notes to Editors). This cohort start their 14/15 courses in 2011/12. It
is in 2011/12 when the 14/15 part of a single 14-19 funding system needs to be rolled
out.
The authors argue that “DCSF, Local Authorities and the LSC have until the start of
2011/12 to get the 14-15 part of the 14-19 funding system right, so the heat is on.
By comparison, the transfer of 16-19 LSC funding does not need to be made in
2010/11 or even 2011/12. But the 16-19 part of the 14-19 funding system must be
ready by 2013/14 at the latest to facilitate staying-on and minimising truancy until
17.”
Tricia Hartley, Chief Executive of the Campaign for Learning and Bob Wicks, Executive
Chairman of Select Education, comment: “The Government’s decision to transfer the
bulk of 16-19 LSC funding to Local Authorities opens up the prospect of an
integrated 141-9 funding system. We were therefore delighted to commission Mark
Corney and Mick Fletcher to examine both the benefits of creating an integrated
14-19 funding system and the challenges of such an enterprise. For the Campaign
and Select Education, the overriding objective must be to develop a system that
puts learner choice first – a cause which the authors have consistently
championed both here and elsewhere. Since the work was commissioned we have
seen the publication of the Education and Skills Bill, which will require young
people to continue in learning until the age of 18, making the issue of learner
choice all the more pertinent. It is in the interests of our economy, our local
communities and of the adults of tomorrow for us to provide viable, relevant and
attractive choices to young people throughout the 14-19 phase and for these to be
supported by a clear and coherent funding system. We very much hope that this
pamphlet will be useful in setting out the issues and stimulating debate on how
best to address them.”
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A distinct 14-19 Learning Phase
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Notes to Editors
1
Gordon Brown on becoming Prime Minister in June 2007 decided to create
DCSF – with responsibility for learning up to 19 outside higher education – and DIUS,
with responsibility for adult skills and higher education. He also decided that 16-19 LSC
funding would transfer to Local Authorities.
2
The Government intends to issue a consultation paper on changes to the
Machinery of Government, covering the funding of pre-19 and post-19 learning, before
Easter 2008. Legislation relating to the transfer of 16-19 LSC funding to Local Authorities
is planned for the Queen’s Speech in November 2008. The earliest possible date for the
transfer is 2010/11.
3
By 2010/11, DCSF revenue spending on 16-19 tuition and training will be
£7.05bn (see below).
4
DCSF directly funds school academies which will rise to £150m by 2010/11. At
present, school academy funding is outside the devolution settlement
to Local Authorities. By 2010/11, DCSF funding of LSC 16-19 provision will be £6.9bn.
At present, the policy is that 16-18 apprenticeship funding will not be devolved to Local
Authorities (£0.78bn).
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A single 14-19 funding system implies bringing together 14-15 secondary school
funding and 16-19 funding. The authors calculate that by 2010/11, the end of the present
spending review period, total revenue spending for tuition and training for all forms of 1419 provision will be £14bn (see below).
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Together, 14-19 school academy funding and 14-19 apprenticeship funding will
account for 9% of 14-19 funding by 2010/11. Hence, a tenth of 14-19 funding will not be
in the hands of Local Authorities.
7
The legislation to raise the learning leaving age to 17 in 2013 and the 18th
birthday until 2015 is contained in the Education and Skills Bill currently before
Parliament.
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In terms of raising the learning leaving age to 17 in 2013, it is this September’s
Year 7s, aged 11/12 in 2008/09, who will need to stay on in education and training (see
below). This cohort start their 14/15 courses in 2011/12. It is in 2011/12 when the 14/15
part of a single 14-19 funding system needs to be rolled out. This is Stage 1 of the rollout of the 14-19 funding system.
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With regard to raising the learning leaving age to 17 in 2013, the transfer of 16-19
LSC funding does not need to be made in 2010/11. However, the transfer must be made
in circumstances which ensure the 16-19 part of the 14-19 funding system is ready by
2013/14. This is Stage 2 of the roll-out of the 14-19 funding system.
About the Campaign for Learning
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The Campaign for Learning is an independent charity promoting learning from,
cradle to grave. The Campaign runs national awareness campaigns, leads projects and
practitioner networks, conducts research and examines the impact of policy on learning
and learners. For more information visit: www.campaignforlearning.org.uk
About Select Education
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Select Education plc is the leading education recruitment specialists in the UK. It
provides a quality, individual service to over 10,000 teachers and support staff who are
registered with Select, and to the 15,000 schools who use its service throughout the UK.
For more information visit: www.selecteducation.co.uk
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A distinct 14-19 Learning Phase
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Contact Details
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If you would like to speak to the authors, they can be contacted as follows:

Mark Corney on 01303 269 799 or 07774 635 834

Mick Fletcher on 01747 870 835 or 07785 508 910
If you would like further information on the launch of the policy pamphlet, please
contact:

Julia Wright, Head of Marketing and Communications, Campaign for Learning
on 0207 766 0013

Rebecca Goodbourn, Policy Manager, Campaign for Learning on 0207 766
0018
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