The Department for Education is reforming further education funding and accountability mechanisms, including condition allocations for FE colleges, pay discussions with the Association of Colleges, and establishment of Technical Excellence Colleges in priority sectors. The reform addresses labour costs in the skills system and aims to improve FE innovation and workforce development. Current status includes active consultation on 2026-27 funding allocations and government response to recommendations on FE and skills.
Information on the policy objectives, delivery model, funding, and selection process for Wave 2 of the Technical Excellence Colleges (TEC) programme to support applicants.
Government policy on devolved adult education and the adult education budget (AEB).
A summary of the formal government response to our consultation: reforming the further education (FE) funding and accountability systems.
Explains the government's response to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reclassifying colleges into the public sector.
What the government is doing to fund schools and colleges fairly and to hold them to account for their pupils’ education.
Introducing a new FE funding system, improving teacher training and apprenticeships.