About us
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE) responsible for funding education and skills providers in England.
What ESFA does
As an executive agency of the Department for Education, and on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, ESFA is responsible for administering funding to deliver education and skills, from early years through to adulthood.
ESFA funds education and skills providers, including:
- maintained schools and early years institutions, through local authorities
- academy trusts
- special schools
- colleges
- independent training providers (ITPs)
- high needs institutions
ESFA is responsible for:
- £70 billion of funding for the education and training sector, ensuring timely and accurate allocations and payment to education and training providers
- providing assurance to Parliament that public funds are spent properly, achieving value for money for the taxpayer and delivers the policies and priorities set out by the Secretary of State
- provides, where necessary, financial support for providers
Our vision
Every pound spent on education and skills has the greatest possible impact on ensuring all learners can realise their potential.
Our outcomes
ESFA has 3 key outcomes:
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Certainty – ensuring those we fund have certainty in their funding to help support effective financial planning.
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Support – ensuring those we fund feel supported including in response to specific financial requests or needs.
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Assurance – ensuring that taxpayers’ money is used for its intended purpose.
Communications
You can keep up-to-date with the latest information and actions from ESFA by reading our newsletter ESFA Update.
Governance
You can read about the structure and membership of the ESFA Management Board and the Audit and Risk Committee.