16-19 Competitions

What are they?
Under the proposals the LSC has issued for consultation, 16-19 Competitions will be seeking to establish new 16-19 provision and will be an open and transparent means of commissioning new provision to meet identified need in an area.  They will help ensure that new 16-19 provision enhances learner access to the broader curriculum, central to the 14-19 agenda by opening up the market to a wider range of providers, including new providers, to increase choice and diversity of learning.

Information given below is dependent on the outcome of the consultation which is currently underway.

In what circumstances will a competition be held?
Competitions for new 16-19 provision will be held under the following circumstances:

• where a need is identified for 200 or more new 16-19 places to meet basic need
• to improve quality and/or the balance of provision in an area
• where there is no proposal to meet these needs by opening new sixth forms in specialist schools or academies.

How could my school become involved in a 16-19 competition?
There are a number of ways your school could propose to help to meet the competition specification.  For example:

• setting up a sixth form and/or college consortium arrangement
• working in partnership to set up a collaborative arrangement with private training providers etc.
• expanding an existing 11-18/16-19 school or sixth form college 
• adding a sixth form to an existing 11-16 school
• Establishing a new 16-19 school or sixth form college.