Date | 13th February 2026 Capacity funding: scale, scope and timing The latest DfE update confirms that a new national bidding round is open for £287 million of post‑16 and construction skills capacity funding in non‑devolved areas. This sits within a wider post‑16 capital budget of £570 million between 2026–27 and 2029–30, split into £375 million for general post‑16 capacity and £195 million for construction skills capacity. The core aim is to help colleges and sixth‑form co

Date | 6th February 2026 Operational focus on student support (bursaries/claims), digital/behaviour (phones/AI), inspection insights (Ofsted chief speech), and funding/progression (apprenticeships) – practical for finance, curriculum, and student services across FE/sixth‑form colleges. Claims, cashflow and data Funding admin is in full swing, even with half‑term on the horizon. The latest DfE update brings together Care to Learn and 16 to 19 Bursary Fund reminders, the adult

Date | 30th January 2026 Colleges have spent this week looking hard at two things that never go away: cash flow and accountability. While the new Ofsted report card model is still bedding in, DfE has quietly published more detail on how and when funding will hit post‑16 bank accounts and how college accounting officers are expected to evidence control. Funding timelines: when the money lands This week’s DfE FE update trails a new GOV.UK page bringing together payments and all

Date | 23rd January 2026 This week’s policy updates and commentary pushed three things onto college agendas for 16–18 provision: a new teacher FTE “snapshot” return, a clearer FE estates pipeline, and refreshed expectations around accountability statements and local needs duties. Underneath, the same themes keep surfacing – workforce pressure, capital planning and how well local plans actually match what young people need. Workforce: the new FTE snapshot The DfE has now confi