16 to 19 funding: advanced maths premium
The advanced maths premium is funding for additional students studying an eligible level 3 maths qualification.
Applies to England
Changes for 2024 to 2025
On 4 October 2023, the Prime Minister announced proposals to introduce the Advanced British Standard for 16 to 19 year olds, a new baccalaureate-style qualification that takes the best of A levels and T Levels and brings them together into a single qualification.
The announcement included increased funding so colleges and schools can deliver maths to more students aged over 16. Using this investment, we will:
- increase the rate for the advanced maths premium from £600 to £900
- remove core maths qualifications from the advanced maths premium calculation, and
- introduce a core maths funding element to support the growth of core maths
About the advanced maths premium
For academic year 2024 to 2025, we will increase the rate for the advanced maths premium from £600 to £900 per year per additional student for one or 2 years, depending on the type and size of qualification studied. We calculate additional students by comparing the number of students enrolled on eligible maths qualifications in the current year with a historic baseline of eligible enrolments. We calculate the advanced maths premium element in the 16 to 19 funding formula after area costs.
The baseline is an average of the advanced maths enrolments recorded between academic year 2019 to 2020 and academic year 2020 to 2021. From academic year 2024 to 2025, the baseline will no longer include core maths qualifications.
In April 2023, we explained that when we updated the data we used to calculate the baseline for academic year 2023 to 2024 allocations, some advanced maths premium allocations changed significantly. We calculated the difference between the 2022 to 2023 allocation and the 2023 to 2024 allocation. We then provided 100% of the funding difference between the 2 for those institutions that lost £20,000 or more.
For academic year 2024 to 2025 only, we will continue this financial protection with some changes. We will:
- compare the 2022 to 2023 advanced maths premium allocation without core maths qualifications with the 2024 to 2025 advanced maths premium allocation (calculated without core maths qualifications)
- use the original rate of £600 in the 2022 to 2023 advanced maths premium allocation and the new £900 rate in the 2024 to 2025 allocation
- fund 50% of the difference between the adjusted 2022 to 2023 and 2024 to 2025 allocation when the decrease is £20,000 or more
We have calculated transitional protection for 2024 to 2025 without core maths qualifications. These will not attract funding from the core maths premium.
Calculating the premium
Step 1: we calculate a baseline
We calculate a baseline figure using full-year individualised learner record (ILR) (R14 and autumn school census) data to establish the number of students per school, college and other institution studying an eligible level 3 maths qualification in academic years 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021. We then take an average of the 2 years.
Step 2: we identify the number of students studying level 3 maths in the appropriate comparison year
We establish the number of students studying an eligible level 3 maths qualification in the relevant academic year using the ILR (R04) and autumn census data for that year. For those qualifications that attract the premium for only 1 year, students will only count if they are in their first year on the qualification. For those qualifications that attract the premium for 2 years, we will also count the number of students still studying those qualifications in the second year.
A student cannot attract funding through both the core maths premium and the advanced maths premium in a funding year. Therefore, where a student is identified as eligible for both, the student remains in the count of eligible students for the core maths premium and we remove them from the count of eligible students for the advanced maths premium.
Step 3: we calculate the difference between eligible student numbers in the baseline and the comparison year
We then compare the eligible student numbers against the baseline. If there is a net increase, we allocate funding for each additional student. If there are fewer students overall studying level 3 maths qualifications in the academic year, there is no reduction in funding.
For example:
- in the baseline, an institution has 40 students studying A level maths and 5 students studying AS level statistics (45 students total)
- in academic year 2022 to 2023, they have 40 students studying A level maths and 10 students studying AS level statistics (50 students total)
- the number of students studying AS level statistics has increased by 5
- 5 students would attract the premium
You can find further examples below.
The volumes used in the example tables take account of the fact that if an additional student is studying both a maths and further maths qualification in the same academic year, we will fund that student twice in the same year. This is the only combination of qualifications that will attract funding twice in one year.
1. Increase in students studying maths
| Baseline | Current year 2022 to 2023 | Change in 2022 to 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students studying A level maths | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| Number of students studying A level further maths | 80 | 80 | 0 |
| Number of students studying A level statistics | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Number of students studying AS level further maths | 30 | 25 | -5 |
| Number of students studying AS level maths | 70 | 80 | 10 |
| Number of students studying AS level statistics | 5 | 10 | 5 |
| Total number of students | 280 | 300 | 20 |
Maths premium for payment in 2023 to 2024 funding allocation 20 x £900 = £18,000
2. No change in students studying maths
| Baseline | Current year 2022 to 2023 | Change in 2022 to 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students studying A level further maths | 100 | 85 | -15 |
| Number of students studying AS level maths | 20 | 25 | 5 |
| Number of students studying AS level further maths | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Number of students studying AS level statistics | 40 | 50 | 10 |
| Number of students studying A level statistics | 5 | 15 | 10 |
| Number of students studying A level maths | 40 | 30 | -10 |
| Total number of students | 210 | 210 | 0 |
Maths premium for payment in 2023 to 2024 funding allocation 0 x £900 = £0
3. Decrease in students studying maths
| Baseline | Current year 2022 to 2023 | Change in 2022 to 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students studying A level maths | 100 | 98 | -2 |
| Number of students studying AS level maths | 20 | 19 | -1 |
| Number of students studying AS level further maths | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Number of students studying AS level statistics | 40 | 38 | -2 |
| Number of students studying A level statistics | 5 | 2 | -3 |
| Number of students studying A level further maths | 40 | 35 | -5 |
| Total number of students | 215 | 202 | -13 |
Maths premium for payment in 2023 to 2024 funding allocation 0 x £900 = £0
Note: for all 3 examples, figures include students in year 1 or 2 of A levels (and other level 3 maths qualifications of 235 and more guided learning hours (GLH)) and students in year 1 of AS levels (and other level 3 maths qualifications under 235 GLH). Students doing maths and further maths count once in each category.
Paying the premium
We will pay the premium automatically in 16 to 19 funding allocations. For allocations in academic year 2024 to 2025, we will use data from the 2023 to 2024 ILR R04 return and 2023 to 2024 data from the autumn 2023 school census to calculate eligible student numbers, which we will compare with the baseline.
Funding rate
We pay the premium at a rate of £900 per year per additional student for one or 2 years, depending on the size of qualification studied. This is determined by the qualification’s GLH:
- if the GLH are under 235 hours, we pay the premium for one year
- if the GLH are 235 hours or above, we pay the premium for 2 years provided the student is still in learning in the second year of study
- if a qualification has 235 GLH or more, and is studied over one year, we will pay the premium for one year
Funding examples
- we fund a student studying A level maths at the rate of £900 per year for 2 years (attracting a total of £1,800)
- we fund a student studying both A level or AS level maths and further maths qualifications in the same academic year twice in the same year. This is the only combination of qualifications that will attract funding twice in one year
Please see below for further funding scenarios.
Additional student level examples
| Level 3 maths qualification studied by additional student | Amount of funding paid in year 1 | Amount of funding paid in year 2 | Total additional funding received |
|---|---|---|---|
| A level maths | £900 | £900 | £1,800 |
| AS level maths | £900 | £0 | £900 |
| IBO level 3 Certificate in Further Mathematics HL | £900 | £900 | £1,800 |
| A level maths and AS level statistics | £900 | £900 | £1,800 |
| A level maths and A level further maths | £1,800 | £1,800 | £3,600 |
| A level maths and AS level further maths | £1,800 | £900 | £2,700 |
Note: We will count a student twice in the same year only if studying both A level or AS level maths and further maths qualifications. Qualifications of 235 or more GLH (for example, an A level) count in both years providing the student is still studying the qualification in the second year. Qualifications under 235 GLH will count in one year.
Check who is eligible for the premium
All schools, colleges and other institutions receiving a 16 to 19 allocation from Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and delivering level 3 maths qualifications (described below) will be eligible for the premium. 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 ESFA 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 level 3 maths qualification
The advanced maths premium operates in parallel to the high value courses premium and core maths premium. Students may qualify for all 3 if they meet the respective criteria for funding.
Eligible qualifications
Please refer to this list which sets out all qualifications eligible for the premium and the GLH.
Information for new institutions
New institutions are eligible to attract funding under the advanced maths premium once they have students on eligible maths qualifications recorded in their data returns.
For any new school, college or other institution, including those that do not have student numbers in academic years 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021, we will use the national average of students studying qualifications that attract the premium for their type of institution to determine the baseline.
We do this by applying the national average proportion for the relevant institution type to an institution’s total 16 to 19 funded students from the current year.
For example, for an academy that we do not have all the data for to calculate a baseline in the normal way, for academic year 2024 to 2025 we will take 33% of their total 16 to 19 funded students from 2023 to 2024 data returned in the autumn 2023 census.
| What we use to calculate the baseline | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Total 16 to 19 funded students from autumn 2023 census | 350 students |
| Academy national average baseline percentage | 31% |
| Baseline calculated for new academy for 2024 to 2025 allocation | 108 students |
The national average proportion of 16 to 18 funded students studying level 3 maths for each institution type:
| Institution type | National average baseline |
|---|---|
| Academies and schools | 31% |
| Free school | 36% |
| General further education and tertiary | 2% |
| Sixth-form college | 21% |
| Studio school | 9% |
| University technical college | 28% |
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.
Updates to this page
Last updated 13 February 2024 + show all updates
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We've updated this page to include new information for the academic year 2024 to 2025. We have increased the rate from £600 to £900. We have removed all references to core maths because there is now a core maths premium for academic year 2024 to 2025.
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When we changed the baseline for 2023 to 2024 funding allocations, some advanced maths premium allocations changed significantly. In April 2023, we contacted institutions affected by this change and confirmed we will provide one year of temporary funding to institutions that would otherwise lose £20,000 or more in advanced maths premium funding in academic year 2023 to 2024 compared with 2022 to 2023. We've updated this page to confirm this.
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We've updated the page for academic year 2023 to 2024. You will see an update on the baseline (which was an average of 2015/16 and 2017/18 data for the original AMP period) to an average of 2019/20 and 2020/21 data. We've also updated the link to the eligible qualifications list for the tech bacc.
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We have updated the page to confirm funding for academic year 2022 to 2023.
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We have added information to the 'about advanced maths premium' on the criteria for decisions on advanced math premium funding for academic year 2022 to 2023.
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We have extended this guidance to cover academic year 2021 to 2022.
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We have updated the guidance for 2020 to 2021 academic year
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An update has been added on how the premium will be calculated in the national funding formula and a link to previous academic years’ accountability measures.
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This guide has been updated covering; clarification on the qualifying period for students covered by the premium, clarification on the funding rate of qualifications of 235 guided learning hours or above studied over 1 year and detail of how the baseline will be calculated for new providers.
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First published.