Correspondence

DfE Update academies: 29 April 2026

Published 29 April 2026

Applies to England

1. Information: National Insurance contributions and schools budget support grant allocations 2025 to 2026 

We have published the final  National Insurance contributions (NICs) grant and schools budget support grant (SBSG) allocations for academies.  

As academies funding follows an academic year rather than a financial year, this final payment to academies will cover April to August 2026.  

We will allocate this using the same pupil numbers as the 2025 to 2026 grants and at rates representing five-twelfths of the full year equivalent of the 2025 to 2026 grants. We previously published these funding rates for the academies final payment in the NICs grant methodology and the SBSG methodology.  

From the 2026 to 2027 funding year onwards, we will roll  NICs and SBSG funding into academies general annual grant allocations.

2. Information: Post-16 National Insurance contributions grant 

We have published the guidance for the post-16 National Insurance contributions grant for financial year 2026 to 2027. 

The guidance explains who is eligible, how we calculate allocations and when we will pay the grant. It supports institutions with the increase in employer national insurance contributions for post-16 education. 

We expect to publish the conditions of grant and the allocations in May. We will share a further update when these are available.

3. Information: 16 to 19 subcontracting data   

We have published the 16 to 19 subcontracting data for academic year 2024 to 2025. 

This publication includes subcontracting data for further education (FE) institutions, schools and academies funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It is based on the R14 individualised learner record return produced by FE institutions, and the autumn census return for schools and academies.

4. Information: AI leadership apprenticeship units updated 

We have updated the AI leadership apprenticeship units to reflect early employer feedback.  

Following engagement led by Skills England, employers told us that the Developing AI Strategy unit would work better if split into smaller units. This will help businesses target specific skills gaps more flexibly.  

We have replaced the original unit with 3 new AI leadership units:  

• AI strategy and opportunity  

• AI adoption, procurement and governance  

• AI delivery and organisational transformation  

The overall content is unchanged.  Learners can take 1 or 2 more units where appropriate to their role and in line with the funding rules.   

The updated units are now available at Skills England.

5. Reminder: Apprenticeship unit funding rules for April to July 2026 published 

We have published version 1 of the Apprenticeship unit funding rules, 2026 to 2027. We also published updated guidance on  learning support and reservations.   

The rules and guidance help providers prepare to deliver apprenticeship units from Tuesday 28 April 2026. They set out how we will fund apprenticeship units and what providers need to do to claim funding.  

You can find the full list of available apprenticeship units, including their funding rates, at  Skills England.

6. Your Feedback: Draft Apprenticeship funding rules 2026 to 2027 published 

We have published the draft Apprenticeship funding rules for the 2026 to 2027 academic year.  

Providers, employers and other stakeholders should review the draft rules now and share feedback to help shape the final version.  

Email comments to fundingrules.comments@dwp.gov.uk on or before Wednesday 6 May 2026.  

We will review all responses and publish the final funding rules in May 2026.  

These rules set out how we will fund apprenticeships and the conditions organisations must meet to receive funding. Reviewing the draft early will support smooth planning for 2026 to 2027.

7. Events and webinars: An introduction to using the Financial Management System software comparison matrix

Tuesday 5 May 2026, 11am to 11:45 am.  Register on Eventbrite

8. Events and webinars: DfE Energy for schools – a new way to buy energy for your school or trust 

Tuesday 12 May 2026, 10 am to 11am.  Register on Eventbrite.