Previously the EFA was responsible for distributing funding for state education in England for 3–19 year olds, as well as managing the estates of schools and colleges; and the SFA was responsible for funding skills training for further education in England and running the National Apprenticeship Service and the National Careers Service.
The EFA had been formed on 1 April 2012 by bringing together the functions of two previous non-departmental public bodies, the Young People's Learning Agency and Partnerships for Schools.
[2] From 2013, the EFA oversaw a schools capital building programme, appointing construction contractors under national and regional framework agreements to enable schools and other education bodies to select and appoint contractors.
A report was issued in 2015 which highlighted that the EFA had discriminated against small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) when appointing to the framework agreements, contrary to UK government guidance promoting SME access to government procurement opportunities.
[6] On September 11 2024, Bridget Phillipson announced the closure of the Education and Skills Funding Agency on 31 March 2025.