Guidance

Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges

Information for further education and sixth-form colleges directly enrolling 14- to 16-year-olds for the 20252026 to 20262027 academic year.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Education
PublishedPublished:
31 March 2023
Last updatedupdated:
6 October 2026
Show all updates

  1. 'Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges', 'Readiness to open checklist for direct entry of students aged 14 to 16 from September 2026' and 'Letter to parents and carers about pupil premium' updated for 2026 to 2027 academic year.

  2. Updated Seefor allthe updates 2025 to 2026 academic year.

  3. Added 'Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges: 2024 to 2025 academic year'. Updated 'College readiness-to-open checklist: from September 2024' and 'College letter to parents and carers about pupil premium'.

  4. Added Sir George Monoux College to the list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.

  5. Removed 'Hugh Baird College' from the Northern England colleges section.

  6. South Gloucestershire and Stroud College added to list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.

  7. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges: 2025 to 2026 academic yearcolleges

HTML

CollegeReadiness readiness-to-opento checklist:open checklist for direct entry of students aged 14 to 16 from September 20252026

ODT, 17.117.3 KB

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CollegeLetter letter to parents and carers about pupil premium

ODT, 17.217.3 KB

This file is in an OpenDocument format

Details

Further education and sixth-form colleges are able to enrol students aged 14 to 16 on a full-time study programme and receive funding from the Department for Education (DfE). Such programmes include the study of technical qualifications alongside general qualifications, including English and mathematics, within the key stage 4 curriculum.

This guidance summarises funding arrangements, including for electively home-educated children. You can find more information in the funding regulations for post-16 provision, in the ‘Students under 16’ section.

The guidance explains:

  • the timeline for delivery in 20252026 and 20262027
  • college and student eligibility criteria
  • statutory duties and other requirements colleges must follow
  • funding arrangements
  • intervention and performance measures
  • data collection and publication requirements
  • a list of institutions intending to enrol

It is for:

  • college leaders and governing bodies
  • school leaders and governing bodies
  • local authorities
  • parents and carers
  • students

Updates to this page

Published 31 March 2023
Last updated 9 June 2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

  1. Updated for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.

  2. Added 'Full-time enrolment of 14- to 16-year-olds in further education and sixth-form colleges: 2024 to 2025 academic year'. Updated 'College readiness-to-open checklist: from September 2024' and 'College letter to parents and carers about pupil premium'.

  3. Added Sir George Monoux College to the list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.

  4. Removed 'Hugh Baird College' from the Northern England colleges section.

  5. South Gloucestershire and Stroud College added to list of colleges intending to enrol 14 to 16-year-olds.

  6. First published.

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