English mayors are set to gain control over funding for 16-to-19 education as part of a wider transfer of responsibilities from central government.

The change was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office in a devolution package published on 30 July.

A subsequent cabinet statement provides further details, confirming plans to give mayors control of budgets supporting education for young people aged between 16 and 19.

The government says the change will allow technical and vocational education to be designed around regional employment needs.

Under the proposals, mayors will be responsible for developing locally tailored technical and vocational routes beginning at age 16.

These programmes are expected to build on the government’s planned regional pathways for pupils from age 14. Mayors would also be expected to work with employers to secure suitable work-experience opportunities.

Funding powers are intended to help local leaders connect education with employment, health services and other forms of support for young people. The government believes a more coordinated regional system could reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training.

The government has not yet published a detailed breakdown of the 16-to-19 funding that will be transferred.

The announcement refers broadly to control of funding for 16-to-19-year-olds. This could affect provision delivered by school sixth forms; sixth-form colleges; further-education colleges; and independent training providers.

However, the primary government documents do not confirm exactly which funding streams or institutional responsibilities will move from the Department for Education.

Details about national safeguards, funding formulas and accountability arrangements also remain outstanding.

The government intends local leaders to combine education and employment services with transport, housing, health and other public services.

Central-government resources are expected to move with functions that are transferred, although the amounts and allocation arrangements have not yet been announced.

The reforms form part of a wider policy of transferring responsibilities from Whitehall to strategic authorities.

The government wants every part of England to have established—or to be establishing—a strategic authority by the end of 2027. It aims to have strategic authorities operating throughout England by the end of 2028.

Areas will not be required to adopt an elected mayor. Non-mayoral strategic authorities will be available, although the government says mayoral authorities will receive a wider range of powers.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, the East Midlands, the West of England, and York and North Yorkshire have been granted established mayoral strategic-authority status.

A white paper explaining the full reforms and their implementation timetable is due to be published alongside the autumn Budget.