The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) provides grants for initiatives to improve educational attainment, particularly for children and young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
For its Spring 2026 round, the EEF is inviting proposals for pilot projects that seek to improve outcomes for learners aged 16 to 19. The work should cover at least one of the following priority areas:
- Attendance (for technical and vocational courses): this includes college-wide programmes as well as programmes that aim to improve attendance on specific courses
- Transition (for technical and vocational courses): this includes collaborative initiatives with feeder schools and programmes that focus on preventing learners from becoming NEET
Funding is available through this round for pilot projects only. Programmes can be general or subject specific, across academic and technical qualifications (but excluding apprenticeships).
Any organisation working with children and young people between the ages of two and 19 can apply for funding.
There is no maximum or minimum grant size. Previous grants have ranged from £90,000 to £1.5m.
There is a webinar on 12 February 2026 to provide more information about the opportunity.
Focus of fund/fund aims:
Grants for pilot projects to support attendance and transition for 16–19 learners on vocational and technical courses
Application deadline:
11 March 2026