Guidance

DfE subcontracting standard

Subcontracting assurance arrangements for all Department for Education (DfE) funded post-16 providers.

• From: Department for Education and Education and Skills Funding Agency
• Published: 28 July 2021
• Last updated: 4 June 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

DfE subcontracting standard

PDF, 430 KB, 23 pages

DfE subcontracting standard

HTML

Assurance reviews of the subcontracting standard for post-16 providers

PDF, 768 KB, 44 pages

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Details

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025. All activity has moved to the Department for Education (DfE). You should continue to follow this guidance.

This document and the supporting auditors guidance set out the requirements for all providers who subcontract £100,000 or more of their delivery, across all DfE funding streams. For in-scope providers, subcontracting standard audit reports should be submitted using Document Exchange by 31 July.

Published 28 July 2021

Last updated 4 June 2025 + show all updates

1. 4 June 2025

   Added the date of 31 July 2025 for subcontracting standard audit reports to be submitted using Document Exchange.

2. 17 August 2022

   Added assurance reviews of the subcontracting standard for post-16 providers document.

3. 28 July 2021

   First published.