16 to 19 funding: core maths premium
Updated 5 March 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-funding-core-maths-premium/16-to-19-funding-core-maths-premium
1. About the core maths premium
The core maths premium is funding to encourage the provision of core maths qualifications and expand maths education for students up to the age of 18. The funding rate for a student studying core maths is £900 for one year only.
Changes for 2025 to 2026
From 2025 to 2026, we are changing what happens when students are eligible for both the advanced maths premium and the core maths premium.
Previously, we have included students eligible for the core maths premium and removed them from the count for the advanced maths premium.
From 2025 to 2026 we are reversing this so that a student will not attract core maths premium funding if they are also enrolled on qualifications that are eligible for the advanced maths premium in the same academic year.
The change will support advanced maths for as many individuals as possible whilst ensuring value for money. It ensures that funding is more accurately directed towards increasing participation in maths education through core maths for students who are not already undertaking other advanced maths qualifications.
2. Calculating the premium
Step 1: we identify the number of students studying core maths
Students in their first year of studying a core maths qualification will attract the funding, this includes those on study programmes and T Levels. Second year core maths students will not attract the funding. We will identify the number of students undertaking an eligible core maths qualification in the academic year prior to the allocation year.
We will get this data from the individualised learner record (ILR) R04 and autumn census data for that year. For example, for academic year 2025 to 2026 allocations, we will use 2024 to 2025 ILR R04 and the autumn 2024 school census.
A student cannot attract funding through both the core maths premium and the advanced maths premium in a funding year. When a student is identified as eligible for both, the student remains in the count of eligible students for the advanced maths premium and we remove them from the count of eligible students for the core maths premium.
Step 2: calculating the premium
The funding rate for a student studying core maths is £900 for one year only. This is because most students study core maths over one year. Second year core maths students will not attract the payment. We will pay the premium as part of the 16 to 19 funding allocation.
3. Check who is eligible for the premium
All schools, colleges and other institutions receiving a 16 to 19 allocation and delivering core maths qualifications will be eligible for the funding. The exception to this is maths schools, which are already required to enter all their students for maths and further maths A level courses.
All full-time and part-time students eligible for 16 to 19 funding can attract the premium provided they:
- have prior attainment equivalent to GCSE grade 9 to 4 in maths
- pass a qualifying period of either 6 weeks for a qualification with a planned length of 24 weeks or more, or 2 weeks for a qualification with a planned length of less than 24 weeks
- are studying an eligible core maths qualification
4. Eligible qualifications
These 4 qualifications are eligible for funding:
- 60147830 – Core Maths A (MEI) Level 3 Certificate
- 60147829 – Core Maths B (MEI) Level 3 Certificate
- 60148573 – Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Certificate in Mathematics in Context
- 60149450 – AQA Certificate Level 3 Mathematical Studies
The Department for Education has published technical guidance on core maths qualifications.
5. Contact us
If you have questions after reading our guidance, or if there’s anything else you need help with, you can find more support in our customer help centre.