The Education Board of the City of London Council met on Thursday, 22 January 2026, to discuss a range of educational initiatives and financial matters. Key topics scheduled for review included updates on the City Premium Grant, adult skills and apprenticeships, and the evaluation of the Cultural & Creative Learning Fund. The Board was also set to consider the revenue budgets for 2026/27 and receive an update on the first year of the Education Strategy 2024-29.

City Premium Grant 2024/25 Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the City Premium Grant (CPG) for the 2024/25 academic year. This grant aims to support 'additionality' to the education offer of schools within the City of London Family of Schools, meaning it should not be used for basic school needs. The CPG is divided into three streams: Disadvantaged Pupils Grant, Partnerships Grant, and Strategic Grant. For the 2024/25 academic year, the Strategic Grant focused on five themes: Mental Health & Wellbeing, Employability, Oracy, Environmental & Outdoor Learning, and Personal Development. The report was expected to present key statistics from the 118 CPG-funded projects that ran during the academic year, highlighting popular themes and areas of focus, and noting developments in the process's third year of operation. The recommendation was for Members to note the findings shared in this report.¹

Update on Adult Skills Education and Apprenticeship

An update was scheduled regarding the City of London Corporation's adult skills education and apprenticeship programmes. This report was to cover the apprenticeship recruitment and training overview, including the City of London's apprenticeship programme coordinated by the Learning and Development Team in partnership with departmental managers. Recruitment is managed by Human Resources, with departmental representatives involved in interviews and selection. The Apprenticeship Academy supports Year 10 and 11 students through academic learning and work placements, preparing them for entry-level apprenticeships. The Adult Skills Team delivers training for apprentices at Levels 2 and 3, and occasionally Level 4, in areas such as Business Administration, Customer Service, Accounting, Payroll, and Data Technician. For higher-level apprenticeships (Levels 5–7) and specialist Level 3 programmes, external providers or subcontractors are engaged. The report was expected to review achieved qualification grades, employment outcomes for apprentices, and assess the impact of apprenticeship training, providing an update on the Apprenticeship Service's delivery activities. Members were asked to note the report.

Apprenticeship Levy Spend Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the Apprenticeship Levy spend, as reported by the Chief People Officer, People & HR. The apprenticeship levy is a UK Government initiative requiring large employers to contribute 0.5% of their total pay bill towards apprenticeship training. Funds are ringfenced for this purpose and must be used within 24 months, or they are returned to HMRC. The report was expected to detail how the City of London Corporation is maximising the benefits of this levy to support both new talent and the ongoing development of current employees. It was anticipated that the report would cover the number of apprentices trained, the types of apprenticeships offered (from Level 3 to Level 7), and the progression of apprentices into employment or further education. The recommendation was for Members to note the report.

Cultural & Creative Learning Fund 2024/25 Evaluation Report

A report was scheduled to be presented on the evaluation of the City's Cultural and Creative Learning (CCL) Fund for 2024/25. This fund aims to support projects that embrace culture, creativity, and the arts, contributing to the City being a vibrant thriving destination. In the academic year 2024/25, 11 projects were funded by the CCL Fund, with a total spend of £182,276 across these projects, engaging 5,645 participants. The report was expected to summarise findings from the evaluations returned by partners at the end of project delivery, highlighting themes such as the impact of multiple points of engagement, the involvement of families and communities, cultural access and autonomy for young people, and the benefits of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for teachers. The recommendation was for Members to note the findings in this report.

Revenue Budgets 2026/27

The Board was scheduled to consider the provisional revenue budgets for 2026/27. The proposed budget for 2026/27 was expected to total £3.191m, representing an increase of £30,000 compared to the Original Budget for 2025/26. This increase was attributed to a 3% inflation uplift on local risk budgets, adjustments for the July 2024 pay award and increased National Insurance contributions, and a minor decrease in the support services budget. The report was expected to seek approval for the provisional revenue budget for submission to the Finance Committee and to authorise the Chamberlain to revise these budgets following the finalisation of the schools funding model.

Education Board Budget Monitoring Report - 2025/26 Period 9

A report was scheduled to provide Members with an update on the Period 9 (P9) position for the 2025/26 financial year, outlining current expenditure and financial activity across the Education Board's strategic areas. This included highlighting spend to date, forecast outturn for both Local Risk and Central Risk budgets, key grant funding, partnership contributions, and strategic initiatives supported during the year. Expenditure to date was reported as broadly in line with planned allocations, with spend reflecting the Education Board's agreed priorities. Key headlines included the Local Risk budget (£885k) and the Central Risk budget (£2.326m), with grants allocated to academies and other organisations totalling £2.150m. Forecasts indicated a balanced outturn position across both Local and Central Risk areas by year-end. The recommendation was for Members to note the report.

Education Strategy 2024-29 - Year 1 Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an overview of the first year of delivery of the Education Strategy 2024-29. This report was expected to summarise activity across the five priority areas of the strategy: Reinforcing Safety, Health and Wellbeing; Promoting Personal Development; Embracing Culture, Creativity and the Arts; Improving Employability; and Supporting Educational Excellence. The report was anticipated to highlight key outcomes such as strengthened collaboration, enriched cultural access, improved employability pathways, and enhanced educational experiences. It was also expected to note early learnings and areas for improvement, including longer-term impact evaluation, progression routes, and widening reach for learners facing the greatest challenges. The recommendation was for Members to note the findings shared in this report.

Primary Arts Quarterly Report - December 2025

A quarterly report on the Primary Arts programme, funded by the City Educational Trust Fund, was scheduled for review. This report was expected to provide an update on the second year of the programme's delivery, building on the success of the previous year. It was anticipated to detail the programme's reach, including the number of schools registered and actively engaging, uptake by borough, and the number of children and teachers involved in various strands of the programme such as Go & See, In-Schools Touring, Masterclasses, Come & Try, and the Cultural Education Leadership Programme. The report was also expected to include highlights, case studies, and details of challenges being overcome, as well as learnings from advisory groups.

¹ The City Premium Grant (CPG) is a fund provided to schools within the City of London Corporation's Family of Schools to support programmes and activities that align with the Education Strategy's aims. It is intended to provide 'additionality' to the existing education offer.