Help and support for colleges

SupportImprovement support available to the further education sector

Government is committed to ensuringsupporting all colleges and designated institutions across the further education (FE) sector is supported to achieve continuous improvement and improvedbetter outcomes for learners, and that should be available to all colleges and designated institutions, regardless of where they are on their improvement journey. It canincludes mean helping good providers to become greatgreat, providers, encouraging ourstrong strongest providers to share their expertise more with others through peer leadership, and sometimes offering more intensive and targeted support where that is needed.

This page brings together theinformation existingon the support currently available from the FE Commissioner, the Department for Education (DfE) more widely and our contracted delivery partners.

The tiered support offer

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1. Universal support

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3. Intensive support

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Targeted and intensive support

Informal, supportive conversation with the FE Commissioner team

Available to all colleges and designated institutions.

The FE Commissioner and theirher team of deputies and advisers have a wealth of further education practitioner experience and are available to support continuous improvement at all stages.

AnyWhere collegecolleges thatare wouldidentified likeas tobeing requestat risk, this may lead to an informalinformal, supportive discussion with the the FE Commissioner orCommissioner their team to explore whatappropriate further Active Support might be available may do so at any time. These conversations will be advisory in nature and would form a good starting point for any reflection on further support a college or designated institution might find helpful.available.

Informal, supportive conversations can be requested by emailing fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Health checks

Available to all colleges and designated institutions.

A health check provides the college with a free 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.

Further education leadership mentoring programme

AvailableColleges to chiefthat executives,wish principals, finance directors and senior leaders and managers in colleges and designated institutions.

The mentoring programme supports existing and aspiring leaders to developexpress andtheir progressinterest in theiraccessing careers and helps create a moreHealth diverseCheck talentshould pipelinecontact for future principals, CEOs, and financial officers.

FE leadership mentoring programmefec.operations@education.gov.uk has more information on how to apply and request a mentor..

Curriculum efficiency and financial sustainability support

Available to all colleges and designated institutions.

Curriculum efficiency and financial sustainability support (CEFSS) is a tailored package designed to flexibly meet the requirements of all types of colleges,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 onis available on effective practice in curriculum planning – – an exploration of the principal stages involved in effective curriculum planning – is available.planning.

FurtherColleges informationthat onwish CEFSS.

CEFSS can be accessed throughout the year by a direct request from a college to aexpress membertheir ofinterest the FE Commissionerin or DfE territorialaccessing teams, or by contacting the FECEFSS Commissioner teamsupport toshould requestcontact more information. Email fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

TailoredTailored  Active Support from the FE Commissioner team

AvailableTailored tosupport, allprioritised for colleges andwhere designatedit institutions.

Tailoredwill supportmost benefit, can include help to understand and address specific issues or challengeschallenges, 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 further education (FE) sector that we may have identified – for example, through the FE Commissioner team, territorialRegional teams,Improvement Teams, and annual strategic conversations.

FurtherTo informationexpress oninterest tailoredor support.

Tailoredask supportquestions isabout availabletailored onsupport, requestcontact by contacting fec.operations@education.gov.ukfe.commissioner@education.gov.uk.

ActiveSupport  Support from National Leaders of Further EducationEducation 

Available to all colleges and designated institutions.

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 supportsupport, prioritised for colleges where it is expected to colleges.have the greatest benefit.

Further information and a list of current NLFEs.

CollegesTo seekingexpress supportan frominterest an in NLFE should emailsupport, contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Active Support from National Leaders of Governance for further educationeducation  

Available to all colleges and designated institutions.

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.

GoverningTo bodiesexpress seekingan supportinterest fromin an NLG should support, email contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

ActiveFurther Supporteducation forleadership recruitmentmentoring toprogramme

For seniorchief leadershipexecutives, principals, finance directors, and boardsenior appointments

Availableleaders toand allmanagers 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 emailingemailing 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.

Further information on SPAs.

You can request further information/ a discussion on a SPA by emailing fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Universal support and resources

JustJust  one thing

Available to newly appointed chairs, principals and governance professionals, by invitation from the the FE Commissioner’s Commissioner’s office.

Just one thing is a strand of Active Support for the sector led by by NLFEs and  and NLGs that 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.

InductionEach events are currently hosted at City Lit College, in London, for each year’s cohort of new principals, chairs and governance professionals,professionals whowill arebe invited byto thean FEinduction Commissioner’s office.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 of NLGs and  and NLFEs sharing sharing their learning.

JustJust  one more thing

Available to principals, chairs, governance professionals and other senior managers and key strategic leads, by invitation from the the FE Commissioner’s 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 colleges host these events, which focus on themes identified by the sector. All colleges receive an invitation to apply for a place.

Email Email fe.commissioner@education.gov.uk to to request more information about this year’s events.

FE Commissioner-ledCompare  structureyour andcurriculum prospects appraisalsefficiency

Available to all colleges and designated institutions.

StructureColleges andcan prospectscompare appraisalstheir (SPAs)own arekey afinancial frameworkdata from latest financial returns to that enableof other colleges consideringusing optionsa spreadsheet available on the View your education data (VYED) website. Comparisons can be made to restructure.diverse The 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 Commissioner sector. teamIt canis provideintended supportfor touse doby thissenior leaders in afurther clear,education objectivewith responsibility for the quality of teaching and evidence-basedlearning way.and the continuing professional development of teaching staff.

• Further informationeducation on SPAsestates planning guide.

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 canwill requestfind a SPAthis manual guide useful if you have responsibility for managing the estate of an FE or discusssixth-form whethercollege.

• Further iteducation wouldcorporations beand helpfulsixth-form bycollege emailingcorporations: fec.operations@education.gov.ukgovernance guide.

Local

Suitable provisionfor reviews

all college corporations.

AvailableLegal toand allregulatory collegesrequirements and recommended governance practice for FE and sixth-form college corporations. Aspects of the guidance may also be useful for designated institutions.

• College financial planning handbook and financial plan

Suitable for FE Commissioner colleges localand provisiondesignated reviewsinstitutions.

Guidance on preparing and submitting the financial plan and supporting commentary.

• Adult education and skills funding collection page

Suitable for all providers of education and training that receive adult skills fund (LPRsASF) assessfrom optionsthe Secretary of State for changingEducation acting through DfE.

The Adult Education Budget was replaced by the provisionASF orin structureJuly 2024 following the skills for jobs consultation.

The purpose of multiplethe institutionsASF is to support adult learners in anon-devolved localareas area. LPRsto gain skills that will lead to meaningful, sustained and relevant employment, or enable them to progress to further learning which will deliver that outcome.

• College management accounts good practice guide

Suitable for all college corporations.

Sets out key principles of good practice to support the FE make sector recommendationsimprove onthe consistency, quality, and effectiveness of in-year reporting of financial performance. College finance directors/chief finance officers should periodically review the bestformat wayand content of achievingtheir long-termmanagement sustainableaccounts provision.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.

• FE Commissioner Financial Benchmark Definitions

YouSuitable canfor FE colleges requestand furthersixth-form informationcolleges.

Sets on LPRsout the methodology used to calculate the revised FE by Commissioner emailingfinancial fec.operations@education.gov.ukbenchmarks as per the FE Commissioner’s letter to the sector in February 2021.

• Effective practice in approaching cultural change in colleges guide (PDF, 274 orKB, 38 bypages)

Suitable visitingfor FE colleges and sixth-form colleges.

Learning from and for the collegesector oversight:about supportprinciples and interventionpractice.

• Effective senior post holder appraisal and chair performance review

Suitable page.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 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.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 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 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 while CCS handles handles the complexities of procurement, delivering value for money and saving them time.

Further information about about CCS’s ’s procurement support and  and products and services is 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 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 is and available.on the Governor for Schools website.

Focusing on your mental wellbeing and help

Open to all colleges.

This service, funded by by DfE, is for Principals, CEOs and senior leaders reporting directly to the Principal or CEO) in in FE colleges.  colleges. Education Support gives 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 the Education Support website.

Other helpful resources

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.

• Further education estates planning guide

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 a FE or sixth-form college.

• Further education corporations and sixth-form college corporations: governance guide

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.

• College financial planning handbook and financial plan

Suitable for FE colleges and designated institutions.

Guidance on preparing and submitting the financial plan and supporting commentary.

• Adult education budget: effective practice guide

Suitable for FE colleges and designated institutions.

This effective practice guide document provides insights into the strategies employed by colleges and local authorities for the utilisation of the adult education budget. Its purpose is to share effective practice across the post 16 sector.

• College management accounts good practice guide

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.

• FE Commissioner Financial Benchmark Definitions

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.

• Effective senior post holder appraisal and chair performance review

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.

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.

Contact us

If you have a specific query or would like further guidance, you can discuss it with your territorialRegional Improvement team lead or email the FE Commissioner support team at at fec.operations@education.gov.uk.