Correspondence

DfE Update further education: 1 October 2025

Published 1 October 2025

Applies to England

1. Action: 2025 to 2026 advanced learner loans performance management point 1

We have published the first time request form for obtaining an advanced learner loans contract.

Completed request forms must be sent to us through the customer help portal before 5pm on Wednesday 15 October 2025.

For further information on the performance review of loans, you can refer to the advanced learner loans funding rules: 2025 to 2026.

If you have any questions, please use the customer help portal to contact us.

2. Information: Change to the 16 to 19 funded large programme uplift for academic year 2026 to 2027

We have changed the large programme uplift for academic year 2026 to 2027 to focus the uplift on maths and high value A level programmes to support the progression of students into priority sectors.

3. Information: Further education workforce data collection is now open

The further education (FE) workforce data collection opened on Monday 29 September and will close Wednesday 26 November 2025.

This collection will:

• provide a better understanding of the implications of government policy and funding
• provide a greater understanding of contracts and pay in the sector
• reveal skills gaps in the sector

We will be publishing outcomes in 2026. You can find outcomes from the previous collection round and guidance documents on GOV.UK.

To access the collection or create an account, use the submit learner data sign in process.

Finally, we wish to thank those of you who took part in our survey about moving the timing of the FE workforce data collection in future years.

We will provide an update on next steps later in the year.

4. Information: Claim window for the targeted retention incentive

To better support FE providers to retain key STEM and technical specialists within FE throughout the whole academic year, for academic year 2025 to 2026, the targeted retention incentive claim window will open in March 2026.

Eligible teachers can claim up to £6,000 if they are in their first 5 years of teaching key STEM and technical subjects, in all further education (FE) colleges.

Teachers employed by eligible FE providers during academic year 2025 to 2026, who meet the criteria, can submit claims between Monday 2 March and Sunday 31 May 2026.

Human resource (HR) staff at eligible FE providers can verify teachers’ claims from Monday 13 April 2026.

Further detail will be shared with HR staff in due course.

Eligible FE providers include:

• general FE colleges
• sixth form colleges
• specialist designated institutions
• 16 to 19 only academies and schools

For queries, contact the FE-targeted.retention-incentive@education.gov.uk.

5. Your feedback: Adult funding allocation research: Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 October 2025-Your feedback on a new design for adult allocation statements

Are you responsible for working with adult funding finance or data for your organisation?  

The Funding Service is redesigning adult allocation statement production. We are seeking finance and data professionals to feedback on the revised adult allocation statement design.

Your feedback will support our efforts in standardising funding allocations for the wider service. 

This research is open to new and experienced service users.

Participation from users with accessibility needs is particularly welcomed.  

One-to-one feedback sessions will take place online from Monday 27 to Wednesday 29 October.

Sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams and last up to 60 minutes.

We will reach out to confirm the date and time after we have received your interest.   

Fill out this form to register your interest in taking part.