Sixth Form Funding & Funding Data Master Classes, 2026

Summary of Masterclass content

The last two academic years have seen the roll out of changes to a number of parts of the sixth form funding model.

To explain the changes, and the effective data management of them, our highly regarded Sixth Form Funding & Funding Data Masterclass will now run as half-day online sessions three times annually. 

The Masterclass programme is designed to give you a comprehensive insight – and multiple tips for maximising the funding your centre is entitled to.

Part 1: Understanding & Maximising Your Sixth Form’s Funding

• How the funding will work and has changed for 2026-27. Including the new learning hours requirements, new funding rates and programme weighting reform.
• How your curriculum, intake, retention, learner age and re-takes impact funding.
• Sixth-form/sixth form class sizes and issues of viability.
• Premiums in the funding: Disadvantage, ALS, the Retention Factor, Large Programme funding top-up.
• Penalties in the funding: post-Census recruits, maths and English Condition of Funding, the Retention Rate.
• Embracing the super flexible funding options for both qualification and non-qualification activity.
• Funding for technical routes; programme weighting and premium funded courses.

Part 2: Optimise Your Sixth Form Funding Claim

• A complementary  analysis of your last five years of sixth form funding data will be provided
• How the sixth form data you present to the DfE acts as your invoice.
• Where and how up to 50% of sixth forms under-claim or lose funding annually.
• Planning and recording qualification and non-qualification activity.
• Accurately recording in-year changes and maximising retention.
• The best ways to check your data for funding purposes.

Suitable for:
Head Teachers/Principals and SLT: Strategic overview of policy and funding horizon for 2026/7.
Head of Sixth: Confidence that your curriculum, structure, recruitment and retention are funding compliant
Bursar/Business Manager: Confidence that, operationally, your centre is earning and claiming accurate and optimum funding
Data/Exams Officer: Confidence that your October return and funding related data in the Census is accurate and DfE compliant.
(Traditionally a management and data colleague will attend)

“Guys – just a short note to say thank you for the training session in Leeds. My post event follow-up has unearthed £67,886 of data errors we have now cracked!” Business Manager

“Basically, we didn’t know what we were doing – and we must of lost thousands because of it. This course massively brought that home and changed the whole way we ran our sixth form.” Assistant Headteacher – Head of Sixth Form

“By some distance, the best funding training I have ever been on.” Headteacher