Correspondence

DfE Update further education: 3 September 2025

Published 3 September 2025

Applies to England

1. Information: High-risk employer policy updated

We are responsible for protecting public funds and ensuring value for money for taxpayers and must therefore ensure that apprenticeship funding is used for the purposes intended.

If employers of apprentices do not comply with the terms and conditions of their funding, we will take action.  

To clarify this, the policy for high-risk apprenticeship employers has been revised. It is relevant to all public and private sector employers, including employer-providers, using apprenticeship funding or non-standard funding.

The main revisions are:

• change to the applicable period and assessment period that the policy applies for, from 12 months to a maximum of 5 years
• added demonstrable and consistent poor performance to the scope of the policy

2. Reminder: Foundation apprenticeships survey

The first foundation apprenticeships launched on Friday 1 August 2025 and are now available for delivery.  

Following the launch, we are inviting existing apprenticeship training providers to complete a short survey.  

The survey is designed to capture your current thinking and help us to understand real-time intentions and respond proactively, including: 

• your organisation’s plans for delivering foundation apprenticeships 

• which occupational standards you intend to offer (or reasons for not engaging at this stage) 

• your confidence in engaging employers and learners 

• what support you may need to deliver this provision effectively 

We know many of you are actively planning your offer for the year ahead, and with much of the apprenticeship provision delivered year-round, we want to give you as much time and flexibility as possible to provide feedback.

Your responses will help us to assess provider readiness and shape the support we offer during the early stages of delivery and help ensure successful early implementation of your foundation apprenticeships.  

The foundation apprenticeship survey will remain open until Wednesday 1 October 2025.

3. Your feedback: Help us to shape the future of education estate management

Are you responsible for managing the land and buildings of your school or further education college? Or do you apply for funding to improve the condition of your estate?

We are developing new online services and tools to support you in managing educational estates.

Your feedback on concepts and designs will help us to create services and tools that are intuitive, efficient and meet your day-to-day needs.

What does taking part involve?

• user research sessions will be held online between September and December 2025
• we will confirm the date and time after we have received your interest
• we’re looking for people to take part in one or multiple sessions, based on your preference

How do I sign up?

Fill out this form to register your interest in taking part and one of our team will contact you.