Correspondence

DfE Update local authorities: 17 September 2025

Published 17 September 2025

Applies to England

1. Action: Check your data before the autumn school census return

As part of the 16 to 19 funding allocations process, we review how schools and academies record the core aim flag against post-16 learning aims in their autumn school census return.

We use the flag when calculating funding allocations to determine programme cost weighting and student retention.

In some cases, we correct significant errors to avoid substantial negative effects on funding. This is known as the core aim fix.

We will be using the core aim fix for the last time for 2026 to 2027 allocations. The core aim flag will still be a mandatory part of data returns, but we will no longer review and fix any erroneous recording after this point.

Detailed information on the check your data school census page will support with  what you need to check to ensure your data is correct and your funding is not adversely affected by errors in your data recording.

2. Action: Declare your subcontracting arrangements for the 2025 to 2026 academic year

Post-16 providers are required to submit a fully completed subcontractor declaration on Manage Your Education and Skills Funding (MYESF).

The window for declaring arrangements for the academic year 2025 to 2026 is now open. 

Providers must submit their forecasted subcontracting declarations before 31 October 2025 and actual declarations by 30 June 2026. 

If you do not subcontract, you must still provide a nil return to confirm this (schools and academies do not need to submit a declaration). 

Further information on declaring arrangements is available on GOV.UK.

Use the Customer Help Portal if you have any questions.

3. Information: Change to the T Level funding methodology for academic year 2027 to 2028

We have updated the T Levels funding guide 2025 to 2026 to confirm a change in the funding methodology from the 2027 to 2028 academic year onwards.

The funding methodology for the 2026 to 2027 academic year will remain unchanged, and we will continue to use the same as applied for academic year 2025 to 2026.

From 2027 to 2028, we will base initial allocations solely on student numbers from the start of the previous academic year as returned in your ILR (R04) or school census (autumn on roll pupils) data return.

Therefore, we will no longer ask institutions to submit estimated student numbers to inform allocations for 2027 to 2028 and beyond.

There will be no T Levels registration application process for providers planning to introduce T Levels in academic year 2027 to 2028.

We recognise that some institutions will begin delivering T Levels in future years and others are still expanding their provision. To support this, we will maintain an in-year reconciliation process to account for over or under-delivery.

4. Information: Update to the 16 to 19 individualised learner record returns guidance

We have updated the individualised learner record (ILR) returns for academic year 2025 to 2026, which is for all institutions that complete the ILR data return.

We have clarified the process for calculating responsive growth and recoveries, which now includes further information on affordability checks and the potential recovery of funds.

This update ensures that the funding process is clear and transparent.

If you have any queries, contact us through the customer help portal.

5. Information: Wanted - school governors with commercial expertise

In the Buying for Schools latest blog, Wendy Burdon from DfE’s Schools Commercial Innovation and Development Team explains why more procurement professionals are needed as school governors and trustees.

6. Webinar: Senior leadership and operations power hour - local government pension offer webinar

Wednesday 24 September 2025, at 3pm to 4pm. Register online.

7. Webinar: DfE Energy for Schools webinar

Monday 29 September 2025, at 11am to 11.30am. Register on Eventbrite.