DfE Update academies: 17 June 2026
Published 17 June 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfe-update-17-june-2026/dfe-update-academies-17-june-2026
1. Information: Free school meal rate uplifts for academic year 2026 to 2027
We are implementing a free school meal rate uplift to £2.66 for academic year 2026 to 2027.
This applies to:
- universal infant free school meals
- further education free meals
- school sixth forms, who will receive specific meal funding for the first time. This will be at the same £2.66 meal rate and will only apply to the expanded cohort
2. Information: Universal infant free school meal allocations 2026 to 2027
We have published the conditions of grant for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) allocations for the academic year 2026 to 2027.
We will adjust the provisional payment for the UIFSM grant in 2026 downwards by 20%, based on DfE forecasts of infant pupils becoming eligible for the new free school meals entitlement.
This is not a reduction in overall funding, but instead a transfer between 2 different funding streams.
Read our UIFSM guidance at the above link to understand how this will work.
We will publish funding allocations before the end of June 2026.
Final UIFSM payments will be reconciled in June 2027, for the period of September 2026 to March 2027. We will adjust these as needed to ensure each school receives the correct amount overall.
3. Information: Is your school’s money working as hard as it should?
Read the latest Buying for Schools blog, where DfE’s Chris McGunnigle returns with an update on the tools and resources available to help you review your banking arrangements.
4. Feedback: Help us to improve pupil premium allocation calculations
We are improving how funding information is presented, specifically calculation information about allocation statements for pupil premium funding.
We would welcome your feedback on the design in development and encourage participation if your role involves accessing and using allocation calculation data.
Online feedback sessions will run from Monday 20 July to Friday 24 July 2026. Sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams and will last up to 60 minutes.
Please register your expression of interest to take part. We will then contact you to confirm your session date and time.
Your feedback will help make funding information clearer, more consistent, and easier to understand.
5. Events and webinars: DfE energy for schools – a new way to buy energy for your school or trust
Monday 22 June 2026, 11am to 11:30am. Register on Eventbrite.
6. Events and webinars: Risk protection arrangement – an alternative to commercial insurance
Tuesday 30 June 2026, 11am to 11:30am. Register on Eventbrite.
7. Events and webinars: Academies chart of accounts technical updates for 2026 to 2027
Thursday 2 July 2026, 11am to midday. Register on Eventbrite.