Policy paper

DfE counter-fraud strategy overview: 2025 to 2027

Updated 23 January 2026

Applies to England

This document gives an overview of the Department for Education (DfE)’s counter-fraud strategy for 2025 to 2027.

Introduction

DfE is committed to protecting the department, the education sector and the public purse from the risk of fraud and error. These risks can divert funds from their intended purpose, which can undermine DfE’s ability to support learners and break down barriers to opportunity.

To strengthen our counter-fraud approach, we must be:

• alert to current and emerging challenges
• ensure our response is effective, proactive and resilient

Our objective is to minimise the potential for fraud and error across the education system by focusing on:

• prevention
• early identification of risks
• robust mitigation

We recognise that fraud and error cannot be eliminated entirely, which is why our strategic approach also includes decisive action when incidents occur, recovering losses and applying enforcement measures to reduce future risk.

We will achieve our objective by:

• embedding prevention as our first line of defence
• strengthening risk management through data and intelligence
• conducting robust investigations

By taking this approach, we can ensure public funds are safeguarded and directed where they have the greatest impact.

Every pound we protect or recover is a pound that can be reinvested into education and supporting learners.

Counter-fraud vision

Our counter-fraud vision is to:

• understand and acknowledge counter-fraud risks and responsibilities across the education sector
• maximise prevention by strengthening capabilities and reducing vulnerabilities
• pursue fraud and error, and minimise the loss to public funds

Counter-fraud strategic aims

Our strategic aims support our vision and our commitment to protect DfE, the education sector and the public purse from the risk of fraud.

Strategic aim 1: understand and acknowledge

We will understand and mitigate our counter-fraud risks. and acknowledge our responsibilities to protect DfE and the education sector.

In practice, this means:

• developing strong organisational insight by recognising, assessing and understanding fraud risks across the education sector
• improving our ability to identify, analyse and interpret risks
• building a robust evidence base to support effective decision-making

Strategic aim 2: prevent

We will maximise prevention and embed it as the first line of defence.

In practice, this means:

• designing out fraud through strengthened systems, controls and processes
• reducing opportunities and vulnerabilities
• delivering targeted awareness sessions and communications
• applying lessons learnt
• embedding prevention methodologies
• ensuring effective governance is in place to provide oversight and accountability

Strategic aim 3: pursue

We will minimise fraud and error by pursuing investigations, compliance and disruption activity, and seek redress through recovery and sanctions.

In practice, this means:

• detecting and disrupting fraud
• conducting robust investigations
• applying appropriate sanctions
• enforcing compliance
• recovering losses to protect public funds