Help and support for colleges
Information about the range of help and support available from the Further Education Commissioner, Department for Education and delivery partners.
Applies to England
Improvement support available to the further education sector
Government is committed to supporting all colleges and designated institutions across the further education (FE) sector to achieve continuous improvement and better outcomes for learners, regardless of where they are on their improvement journey. It includes helping good providers become great, encouraging strong providers to share their expertise through peer leadership, and sometimes offering more intensive and targeted support where that is needed.
This page brings together information on the support currently available from the FE Commissioner, the Department for Education (DfE) more widely and our contracted delivery partners.
The tiered support offer
The latest version of the college oversight, improvement and intervention guidance published in November 2025 reflects a new approach in supporting improvement across the statutory FE sector through a tiered support offer.
1. Universal support
This is intended to promote collaboration and foster continuous improvement. Resources and support such as effective practice guides, webinars, and improvement events like ‘Just One Thing’ that already enable this self-improving culture across the sector will continue to be available to all colleges.
2. Targeted support
Targeted support will preserve and prioritise some forms of support for those colleges that would benefit most. Each Regional Improvement Team, working closely with its dedicated Deputy FE Commissioner, will consider risks across a region and recommend support programmes to those colleges where most needed. Types of targeted support include Health Checks, Curriculum Efficiency and Financial Sustainability Support and peer mentoring from National Leaders in Further Education or Governance.
3. Intensive support
This will continue to be available in the small number of cases where concerns are persistent or there are significant challenges that cannot be resolved through improvement alone. This may include intervention, where a relevant trigger has been met; and/or a Structure and Prospects Appraisal, where restructuring is required.
Targeted and intensive support
Informal, supportive conversation with the FE Commissioner team
The FE Commissioner and her team of deputies and advisers have a wealth of further education practitioner experience and are available to support continuous improvement at all stages.
Where colleges are identified as being at risk, this may lead to an informal, supportive discussion with the FE Commissioner team to explore appropriate support available.
Health checks
A health check provides the college with a review of its operations. Health checks are prioritised for those where the review is expected to have the greatest benefit. It usually consists of a 2-day visit to the college by a small team from the FE Commissioner, based on a mutually agreed plan. At the end of the visit, the FEC team will feedback to the college about what they have discovered. The college can then decide what further action is needed, and whether to request further help and support from the FEC.
Colleges that wish to express their interest in accessing a Health Check should contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.
Curriculum efficiency and financial sustainability support
Curriculum efficiency and financial sustainability support (CEFSS) is a tailored package designed to meet the requirements of all types of colleges flexibly, rather than a ‘one-size-fits-all’.
The aim of CEFSS is to make a positive difference to colleges that may require help with costed curriculum and financial planning, and to raise awareness of effective practice that they can use and could be shared within the sector.
Any suggested actions given through the help and support are advisory and it is up to the individual college to decide whether to implement any of the advice through their senior leadership team and board of governors.
Guidance is available on effective practice in curriculum planning – an exploration of the principal stages involved in effective curriculum planning.
Colleges that wish to express their interest in accessing CEFSS support should contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.
Tailored Support from the FE Commissioner team
Tailored support, prioritised for colleges where it will most benefit, can include help to understand and address specific issues or challenges, and to improve what is already working well in a college.
A key element of tailored support will be to signpost, promote and share examples of effective practices from the FE sector that we may have identified – for example, through the FE Commissioner team, Regional Improvement Teams, and annual strategic conversations.
To express interest or ask questions about tailored support, contact fe.commissioner@education.gov.uk.
Support from National Leaders of Further Education
National Leaders of Further Education (NLFEs) are serving college senior leaders who have a strong track record of delivering improvement, both at their own colleges and in working with others. They provide peer-led mentoring and support, prioritised for colleges where it is expected to have the greatest benefit.
Further information and a list of current NLFEs.
To express an interest in NLFE support, contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.
Support from National Leaders of Governance for further education
National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) are experienced college governors and governance professionals with a strong record of supporting college improvement. They provide peer-led mentoring and improvement support to governing boards.
Further information and a list of current NLGs.
To express an interest in NLG support, contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.
Further education leadership mentoring programme
For chief executives, principals, finance directors, and senior leaders and managers in colleges and designated institutions. The mentoring programme supports existing and aspiring leaders to develop and progress in their careers and helps create a more diverse talent pipeline for future principals, CEOs, and financial officers.
FE leadership mentoring programme has more information on how to apply and request a mentor.
Support for recruitment to senior leadership and board appointments
Support is available to governing bodies in their recruitment and selection panels for CEOs and principals, other senior posts, or chair of board appointments.
Where it might be helpful, a request can be made for a member of the FE Commissioner team or NLG to join a selection panel to support decision making.
Support can be requested by emailing fec.operations@education.gov.uk.
Local provision reviews
FE Commissioner local provision reviews (LPRs) assess options for changing the provision or structure of multiple institutions in a local area. LPRs make recommendations on the best way of achieving long-term sustainable provision.
You can request further information on LPRs by emailing fec.operations@education.gov.uk
Improvement Reviews
An ‘Improvement Review’ is a mandated form of targeted support which will take place following the issuing of a DfE ‘Letter to Improve’ to a college for reasons of persistent, significant or escalating risks as described in chapter 2 of the College oversight, improvement and intervention publication.
The FEC will assess an individual college’s capacity to address weaknesses identified and result in tailored plans setting out specific areas for improvement.
Neither the plans resulting from ‘Improvement Reviews’ nor the ‘Letter to Improve’ will be published.
FE Commissioner-led structure and prospects appraisals
Structure and prospects appraisals (SPAs) are a framework that enable colleges considering options to restructure. The FE Commissioner team can provide support to do this in a clear, objective and evidence-based way.
You can request further information/ a discussion on a SPA by emailing fec.operations@education.gov.uk.
Universal support and resources
Just one thing
Available to newly appointed chairs, principals and governance professionals, by invitation from the FE Commissioner’s office.
Just one thing is a strand of Support for the sector led by NLFEs and NLGs that supports newly appointed chairs, principals and governance professionals. The aim is for seasoned postholders to share ‘just one thing’ they wished they had known when first in post.
Each year’s cohort of new principals, chairs and governance professionals will be invited to an induction event.
The events aim to:
- share learning
- encourage networking
- promote understanding of the importance of principals working closely and effectively with their chair and governance professional
View interviews of NLGs and NLFEs sharing their learning.
Just one more thing
Available to principals, chairs, governance professionals and other senior managers and key strategic leads, by invitation from the FE Commissioner’s office.
Just one more thing is a spin-off series of the Just one thing events held each year, focussing on the sharing of effective sector practices.
NLFE colleges host these events, which focus on themes identified by the sector. All colleges receive an invitation to apply for a place.
Email fe.commissioner@education.gov.uk to request more information about this year’s events.
Compare your curriculum efficiency
Available to all colleges and designated institutions.
Colleges can compare their own key financial data from latest financial returns to that of other colleges using a spreadsheet available on the View your education data (VYED) website. Comparisons can be made to diverse types of colleges using the in-built filters.
Effective practice guides
- Powerful Pedagogy: Effective Practice (PDF, 737 KB, 67 pages)
Suitable for all college corporations.
This is a focused and in-depth exploration of teaching and learning which sets out pedagogical principles and practice from and for the FE sector. It is intended for use by senior leaders in further education with responsibility for the quality of teaching and learning and the continuing professional development of teaching staff.
Suitable for FE colleges and sixth-form colleges.
We have published information and advice to help FE and sixth-form colleges manage their estates, including buildings and land. You will find this manual guide useful if you have responsibility for managing the estate of an FE or sixth-form college.
Suitable for all college corporations.
Legal and regulatory requirements and recommended governance practice for FE and sixth-form college corporations. Aspects of the guidance may also be useful for designated institutions.
Suitable for FE colleges and designated institutions.
Guidance on preparing and submitting the financial plan and supporting commentary.
Suitable for all providers of education and training that receive adult skills fund (ASF) from the Secretary of State for Education acting through DfE.
The Adult Education Budget was replaced by the ASF in July 2024 following the skills for jobs consultation.
The purpose of the ASF is to support adult learners in non-devolved areas to gain skills that will lead to meaningful, sustained and relevant employment, or enable them to progress to further learning which will deliver that outcome.
Suitable for all college corporations.
Sets out key principles of good practice to support the FE sector improve the consistency, quality, and effectiveness of in-year reporting of financial performance. College finance directors/chief finance officers should periodically review the format and content of their management accounts and consult governors and senior leaders on whether they meet their needs. This guide can serve as a reference point to help inform this process.
Suitable for FE colleges and sixth-form colleges.
Sets out the methodology used to calculate the revised FE Commissioner financial benchmarks as per the FE Commissioner’s letter to the sector in February 2021.
- Effective practice in approaching cultural change in colleges guide (PDF, 274 KB, 38 pages)
Suitable for FE colleges and sixth-form colleges.
Learning from and for the sector about principles and practice.
Suitable for FE colleges, sixth-form colleges and designated institutions.
This effective practice guide supports FE governing bodies in undertaking appraisals of senior postholders and governance professionals. It is also designed to ensure that there is regular and constructive review of the performance of governing body chairs.
Other helpful resources
JISC Cyber Security
Suitable for all college corporations.
More information can be found on the JISC Cyber Security website. How to assess your cyber security posture is a useful document for governors to assess the college’s position on cyber security.
Support available from DfE
Independent business reviews
Suitable for FE colleges and lenders.
Independent business reviews (IBR) are intended to establish clarity on a college’s position and provide a robust and independent assessment of the options for its future. They are a tool for colleges and their lenders and funders.
IBRs can be commissioned by colleges, lenders or, in exceptional circumstances, DfE.
Further information on IBRs is available in the college oversight, support and intervention publication.
Support available from our delivery partners
Crown Commercial Service procurement support
Open to all colleges.
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) can help colleges to procure common goods efficiently and economically. By leveraging CCS’s commercial agreements and the collective purchasing power of public sector organisations, colleges can benefit from competitive pricing for high-quality products. This can provide them with potentially significant savings against commercially available rates.
CCS also simplifies compliance with procurement regulations, offering a range of services, including energy and information technology, through easily accessible frameworks. This allows colleges to focus on educational excellence while CCS handles the complexities of procurement, delivering value for money and saving them time.
Further information about CCS’s procurement support and products and services is available.
Leadership and Governance Programmes – The Education and Training Foundation
Open to all colleges.
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) offer enables the delivery of a wide variety of learning and development programmes for leaders and governors. These include programmes intended to:
- build the skills and strategic capability of senior leaders and governors
- strengthen how leaders approach curriculum planning and quality assurance
- develop middle managers and prospective senior leaders, to create a diverse pipeline of future leaders
- support senior finance officers to ensure that providers are effective in managing financial risks and have a sustainable financial model
- support the development of governance professionals as strategic enablers
Further information can be found on the ETF website.
Help to recruit governors for college board
Open to all colleges.
It is important that a college board is made up of those who have the skills, knowledge and experience to ensure that the college is effectively delivering the education and skills that are needed, not just locally but also for the UK.
More information is available on recruiting an FE governor and on the Governor for Schools website.
Focusing on your mental wellbeing and help
Open to all colleges.
This service, funded by DfE, is for Principals, CEOs and senior leaders reporting directly to the Principal or CEO) in FE colleges. Education Support gives you a safe and confidential space to talk about, and process what is going on for you at work. You will work with qualified and experienced supervisors to focus on your mental wellbeing and help you develop new coping strategies to feel more fulfilled and in control. You will receive 6 free one-to-one sessions by Zoom or telephone, which are completely confidential. For those who need it, we can also offer access to counselling, delivered by qualified BACP accredited counsellors.
More information on wellbeing support can be found on the Education Support website.
Contact us
If you have a specific query or would like further guidance, you can discuss it with your Regional Improvement team lead or email the FE Commissioner support team at fec.operations@education.gov.uk.
Updates to this page
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Added guidance about the 3 tiers of support, as outlined in 'College oversight, improvement and intervention'.
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Added 'Help to recruit governors for college board' to the 'Support available from our delivery partners' section.
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Removed 'Help to recruit governors for college board' section as the Department for Education's contract with Peridot has now ended.
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Added link to the 'Effective senior post holder appraisal and chair performance review'.
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Added 'Powerful Pedagogy: Effective Practice' to 'Other helpful resources'.
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Updated the information about Just one thing. Added new information about Just one more thing and procurement support from the Crown Commercial Service. Removed out-of-date information about the principals intervention support group and the local skills improvement fund.
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Added 'Adult education budget: effective practice guide' to the 'Other helpful resources' section.
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Added 'Effective practice in approaching cultural change in colleges' guide to 'Other helpful resources' section.
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We have updated the page to improve the layout and removed content which is no longer relevant.
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Updated 'Active Support available from the FE Commissioner' section to add information about the further education leadership mentoring programme.
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Updated the page to reflect that diagnostic assessments are no longer available and to share links to the recently published estates and curriculum guides.
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Added link to recruit an FE governor page.
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Updated to include information on the Curriculum Efficiency and Financial Sustainability Support (CEFSS).
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First published.