Submit financial data for FE colleges – dry run 2026 to 2027
How further education (FE) colleges can meet Department for Education requirements to submit granular spend data during the 2026 to 2027 dry run collection.
Applies to England
FE colleges must submit detailed (granular) actual spend data to the Department for Education (DfE) more regularly through the government financial year.
The government financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
We are conducting a dry run data collection to allow both DfE and the sector to test the processes required to meet central government financial reporting obligations. To support this, we have prepared a data collection workbook to help with your submission.
This change follows the reclassification of colleges and their subsidiaries into the central government sector by the Office for National Statistics in 2022.
To prepare, you should:
- read the guidance document, , to understand the data requirements
- map your account codes to the FE chart of accounts
Submission timetable
The schedule for the 2026 to 2027 dry run submissions is:
| Collection | Data Period | Collection Opens | Collection Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 collection | April 2026 to June 2026 | 1 July 2026 | 28 August 2026 |
| Quarter 2 collection | July 2026 to September 2026 | 1 October 2026 | 20 November 2026 |
| Quarter 3 collection | October 2026 to December 2026 | 18 January 2027 | 19 February 2027 |
| Quarter 4 collection | January 2027 to March 2027 | 19 April 2027 | 21 May 2027 |
Complete the data submission
We have provided a single to use across the full 12 month period.
When you complete the submissions, you will need to map your existing local codes to the standardised DfE chart of accounts codes. Use the mapping worksheets in the workbook to do this.
Detailed instructions are available in the mapping section of the guidance document.
You will generally only need to complete the mapping exercise once. You will only need to update this if you introduce new account codes into your financial system.
Each submission will cover 3 months of data, so you should only complete the tabs relevant to the applicable quarterly submission period.
Upload the data submission
You must upload your completed data submission workbook through the DfE online portal.
The portal link will be available from July 2026, during the first collection period.
There is more information about what the portal will look like and how you will submit the data in the guidance document.
Get support
Join a webinar
We are hosting a series of webinars in June 2026, to launch the data collection and support your preparation.
These calls will:
- provide an overview of the chart of accounts
- take you through the data collection workbook
- outline expectations for each submission
- offer an opportunity to ask questions
Webinar dates:
- 22 June, at 2.30pm
- 23 June, at 10.30am
- 24 June, at 2.30pm
- 25 June, at 10.30am
- 29 June, at 2.30pm
- 30 June, at 10.30am
Register for a webinar on Eventbrite. Your confirmation email will include joining instructions.
Additional sessions will be held during both the launch period and subsequent data collection cycles.
Get further support
If you have any queries, contact us through the customer help portal and:
- select the query type ‘Data returns, collections and requests’
- select ‘Financial returns’
- select ‘Submit financial data for further education colleges’
- select the appropriate option from the list
Updates to this page
-
Updated the page and documents, as colleges can submit data for the first collection from 1 July.
-
First published.