The teachers' pension scheme employer contribution rate drops from 28.6% to 17.6% on 1 April 2027. The DfE grant that compensates FE providers for above-baseline pension costs will fall in proportion — but so will actual costs.
21 September 2026
The teachers' pension scheme employer contribution rate drops from 28.6% to 17.6% on 1 April 2027. The DfE grant that compensates FE providers for above-baseline pension costs will fall in proportion — but so will actual costs.
21 September 2026
Collection of Dear Accounting Officer letters from DfE to college corporation accounting officers, covering financial management and governance requirements.
Good practice guides for college corporations covering financial management topics including streamlined energy and carbon reporting.
Online portal for colleges to submit their College Financial Forecasting Return (CFFR) and other financial data to the DfE. Requires DfE Sign-in.
Financial management and governance requirements for all further education and sixth form college corporations, coming into effect 1 August 2026.
Guidance and templates for colleges completing their financial planning handbook and college financial forecast return submission.
Guidance on DfE education and skills agreements and accountability agreements for the 2026 to 2027 funding year.
DfE's strategy for the education estate, setting out the long-term approach to managing and improving school, college and early years buildings.
Interactive benchmarking tool allowing colleges to compare their financial performance against sector averages and peer institutions.
Current guidance on free meal entitlement for students in further education funded institutions, including eligibility criteria and provider responsibilities.
Published standards for the management of further education college estates, covering condition, utilisation, sustainability and compliance.
Information on additional grant funding for post-16 providers to cover increased employer National Insurance Contributions costs.
Guidance for further education colleges on preparing for and participating in the college financial data collection dry run for 2026 to 2027.
Details of funding adjustments made to post-16 providers to cover increased teachers' pension employer contribution rates.
Guidance and methodology for the grant paid to further education providers to cover increased teachers' pension scheme employer contribution rates.