How to use the 16-19 tuition fund

The 16-19 Tuition fund is no longer available as of August 2024. To find out more about available funding for schools, head to our funding page. 

How to use the 16-19 tuition fund to help pupils with exams and resits

With resits results day upon us, there are many students that may be looking for additional help with their next steps. This January, thousands of pupils across the country will receive their resit results, hoping to improve their grades from the summer.

Despite the return of exams, pandemic learning loss is far from over. The pupils who sat their GCSEs this year may still be recovering from the disruption to learning caused by Covid – not only was their learning disrupted but as schools return to pre-pandemic grade boundaries. On top of this, Secondary school exam anxiety is at an all-time high, and the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their more advantaged peers has widened to 9+ months, according to the NFER. 

Many schools, sixth forms and colleges are reporting increased numbers of pupils re-sitting exams. Luckily, there’s a government grant specifically for 16 to 19-year-olds that can be used on activities to help them get better prepared for their resits – the 16-19 tuition fund. In this article, we’ll cover how online tutoring can help pupils prepare for resits, as well as what the 16-19 tuition fund is and how to make sure you don’t miss out on the money available. 

How online tutoring can prepare pupils for resits

Online tutoring is designed to give personalised support to pupils who need it, helping to plug any learning gaps, as well as provide useful study skills and reduce anxiety before sitting exams. 

Both 1:1 and 3:1 tuition are effective in improving both grades and confidence – and they can both be funded by the 16-19 tuition fund. 

With MyTutor, our tutors are near-peer and so have recently been through exams themselves. This means they can provide pupils with regular feedback and support, as well as work with teachers to identify exactly which topics a pupil is struggling to grasp, helping pupils to concentrate their revision in specific areas. By practising exam questions under timed conditions, pupils can build confidence and familiarity with the format of the exams.

Tutoring also helps 16-19-year-olds build their confidence during resits. Many report that having a near-peer tutor helps them feel as though they're moving forward, whereas working with their GCSE teachers can make them feel as though they're going back a step. 
 

What’s the 16-19 tuition fund?

The 16-19 tuition fund is a government grant given to schools, colleges and sixth forms, designed to help pupils catch up after disruption caused by the pandemic. 

The grant can be used to provide tuition to: 

• Those who didn’t get a grade 6 or above in English and/or Maths in their GCSEs
• Pupils who live in the most economically deprived areas of the country
• Disadvantaged pupils who are eligible for the 16-19 Bursary Fund
• Pupils aged 19 to 24 who have an EHC plan
   

How do I claim the 16-19 tuition fund?

If you’ve signed up for the 16-19 tuition fund in previous years, the good news is that there’s no need to opt-in again this year – you’ll receive the fund automatically in December and further instalments throughout the year. You can find more FAQs on this fund in our Ultimate Guide to Funding blog.