April's Here, And So Are the Biggest Shake-Ups to Hit FE in Years

Date | 2 April 2026

There's something about the start of a new financial year that concentrates the mind. April 1st brought more than just fresh budgets this time around; it landed a raft of policy changes that colleges, sixth forms and training providers have been bracing for since last autumn's white paper. So let's unpack what's actually changed and what it means for the people doing the work.

Apprenticeship units are finally live

After months of consultation and a fair amount of scepticism, the government's new apprenticeship units went live this week. These are short, modular courses, anywhere from 30 to 140 hours long, drawn from existing occupational standards and funded through the Growth and Skills Levy. The first wave covers AI, leadership, electric vehicle charging, solar PV installation, electrical and mechanical fitting, and welding.

It's a genuinely different proposition from a full apprenticeship. Employers who don't pay the levy get full funding; those who do can draw on their pot. Delivery starts with a targeted group of providers already performing well in these areas. Whether this becomes the flexible upskilling tool the sector's been crying out for or just another initiative that looks better on paper that depends entirely on how smoothly colleges can mobilise.

Foundation apprenticeships expand their reach

Alongside the units, foundation apprenticeships have now widened to include catering and hospitality, plus retail service, supply and administration. That's on top of the existing routes in construction, digital, engineering, manufacturing, and health and social care. For young people aged 16 to 21, or up to 24 with an EHCP, these offer a Level 2 job with structured training attached. Employers pick up a £2,000 incentive.

It's not a silver bullet for youth unemployment, but it's a meaningful expansion. Colleges running these programmes will need to be sharp about employer engagement if the numbers are going to stick.

Sixth forms still waiting for a fair deal

Then there's the funding picture, which remains decidedly less cheerful. The national rate for 16-to-19 provision rises by just 0.5% in 2026-27, taking per-pupil funding to £5,133. That's the smallest uplift since rates were frozen back in 2021-22. Sixth form leaders aren't mincing words: the Sixth Form Colleges Association has said the increase "falls well short" of what's needed and that colleges are being asked to do more with less at the precise moment students are making post-16 choices.

The timing hasn't helped either. Allocation statements were delayed, leaving leaders planning in the dark. When you're trying to set a curriculum offer for September while your budget's still an open question, "not magicians" feels like a reasonable thing to say.

FE teacher training gets a new rulebook

Quietly but significantly, April also marks the point at which FE initial teacher training providers must formally register with the DfE, submit student data, and follow new curriculum and delivery guidance. It's part of the government's push for structured professional development across the sector, a welcome ambition, provided it doesn't drown smaller providers in paperwork.

It's a packed start to the year. The direction of travel is clear: more flexibility, more accountability, and more expectation. Whether the funding keeps pace with the ambition is the question that won't go away.