Help and support for colleges

Improvement support available to the further education (FE) sector

GovernmentThe 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

ThisUniversal support is intended to promote collaboration and foster continuous improvement. Resources and support such as effective practice guides, webinars,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 Regionalregional Improvementimprovement Team,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 Healthhealth Checks,checks, Curriculumcurriculum Efficiencyefficiency and Financialfinancial Sustainabilitysustainability Supportsupport (CEFSS), and peer mentoring from National Leaders inof Further Education (NLFEs) or Governance.National Leaders of Governance (NLGs).

3. Intensive support

ThisIntensive support 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,intervention whereif a relevant trigger has been met;met, and/or a Structurestructure and Prospectsprospects Appraisal,appraisal where(SPA), or both, if restructuring is required.

Targeted and intensive support

Informal, supportive conversationdiscussion with the FE Commissioner team

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

Where collegesIf area college is identified as being at risk, this may lead to an informal, supportive discussion with the FE Commissioner team to explore the most appropriate support available.

Health checks

A health check provides the college with a review of its operations. Health checks are prioritised for those colleges 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, Commissioner team, 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,needed and whether to request further help and support from the FEC.team.

CollegesTo that wish to express theiran interest in accessing a Healthhealth Checkcheck, 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 aimIts of CEFSS isaim is to make a positive difference to collegesthose that may require help with costed curriculum and financial planning, and to raise awareness of effective practice that they can use and couldshare be shared within the sector.

Any suggested actions given through the help and support actions are advisoryadvisory. andIt it is up to the individual college to decidedecide, whether to implement any of the advice through their senior leadership team and board of governors.

Guidancegovernors, iswhether availableto on effectiveimplement practiceany inof curriculumthe planning –advice anoffered.

Guidance explorationon of the principal stages involvedof effective practice in effective curriculum planning.planning is available.

CollegesTo that wish to express theiran interest in accessing CEFSS supportsupport, should contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Tailored Tailored Supportsupport from the FE Commissioner team

Tailored support,support, prioritised for colleges wherethat 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 practicespractice from the FE sector that we may have identified –through, for example, through the FE Commissioner team, Regionalregional Improvementimprovement Teams,teams and annual strategic conversations.

To express an interest orin askaccessing questions about tailored support, contact fe.commissioner@education.gov.uk.

Support Support from from National Leaders of Further Education 

National Leaders of Further Education (NLFEs) are serving college senior college 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. is available.

To express an interest in accessing NLFE support, contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Support from National Leaders of Governance for further education  

National Leaders of Governance (NLGs) for further education 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. is available.

To express an interest in accessing NLG support, contact fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Further FE education leadership mentoring programme

ForThe FE leadership mentoring programme supports existing and aspiring chief executives,executives (CEOs), principals, finance directors, and senior leaders and managers in colleges and designated institutions.institutions The mentoring programme supports existing and aspiring leaders to develop and progress in their careerscareers, andcreating helps create a more diverse talent pipeline for future principals, CEOs, and financial officers.pipeline.

The FE leadership mentoring programme  has guidance offers more information on how to apply to the programme and request a mentor.

Support for recruitment to senior leadership and board appointments  

Support is available to governing bodies inand their recruitment and selection panels for CEOs and principals, other senior posts,posts orand 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.decision-making.

SupportTo canrequest besupport, requested by emailing email fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Local provision reviews  review  

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.

YouTo can request further information on LPRs by emailing , email fec.operations@education.gov.uk 

Improvement Reviews review 

An ‘Improvementimprovement Review’review is a mandated form of targeted support  whichthat willtakes take place followingafter theDfE issuinghas ofissued a DfEcollege ‘Letterwith toa Improve’letter to aimprove college for reasons of persistent, significant or escalating risksrisks, as described in chapter 2 of the College oversight, improvement and intervention publication.guidance.

The FECFE Commissioner will assess anthe individual college’s capacity to address the weaknesses identified and resultdraw inup a tailored plansplan setting out specific areas for improvement.

Neither the plans resulting from ‘Improvementan Reviews’improvement review nor the ‘Letterletter to Improve’improve will be published.

FE Commissioner-led structure and prospects appraisals  

Structure and prospects appraisals (SPAs) areprovide a framework thatfor 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. is available.

YouTo can request further information/information or a discussion onabout a a SPA by, emailing email fec.operations@education.gov.uk.

Universal support and resources

Just ‘Just one thingthing’

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

Just‘Just one thingthing’ is a strand of Supportsupport for the sector led by NLFEs and NLGs that. supportsEach year’s cohort of newly appointed chairs, principals and governance professionals.professionals Theis aiminvited isto foran induction event at which 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 ‘Just one more thingthing’

Available to principals, chairs, governance professionals and other senior managers and key strategic leads,leads by invitation from the FE Commissioner’s office.

Just‘Just one more thingthing’ is a spin-off series of the Just‘Just one thingthing’ events held each year,year focussingto share on the sharing of effective sector practices.practice.

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 Compare your your curriculum efficiency

Available to all colleges and designated institutions.

Colleges can compare theirthe own key financial data from their latest financial returns towith 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 Effective practice guides

• Powerful Pedagogy:pedagogy: Effectiveeffective Practicepractice (PDF, 737 KB, 67 pages)

Suitable for all college corporations.

This is a focused and in-depth exploration of teaching and learning whichthat 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.

WeThis haveguidance published information and advice to help FE and sixth-form colleges manage their estates, including buildings and land. You will findbe this manual guide useful iffor youthose havewith responsibility for managing the estate of an FE or sixth-form college.college, including buildings and land.

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

Suitable for all college corporations.

LegalThis guidance sets out 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 college financial planforecasting return (CFFR)

Suitable for FE colleges and designated institutions.

Guidance on preparing and submitting the financialCFFR, planwith and supporting commentary.

• Adult education and skills funding collection page

Suitable for all providers of education and training that receive adultreceive the 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 whichthat will deliver that outcome.

• College management accounts good practice guide

Suitable for all college corporations.

SetsThis guidance sets out key principles of good practice to support the FE sector to improve the consistency, quality,quality and effectiveness of in-year reporting of financial performance. College finance directors/chiefdirectors or chief finance officers should periodically review the format and content of their management accounts and consult governors and senior leaders onas to whether they meet their needs. This guideguidance can serve as a reference point to help inform this process.

• FE Commissioner Financial Benchmark Definitionsbenchmarks

Suitable for FE colleges and sixth-form colleges.

SetsThis guidance 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.

LearningThis guidance sets out 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.

• Effective practice in strategic planning in further education

Suitable for FE leaders and governors.

This guide provides a focussed and in-depth exploration of strategic planning within further education. Drawing on sector-wide practices and insights, it serves as a practical resource for senior leaders and governors in FE institutions seeking to enhance their strategic planning.

• Effective practice in delivering 16 to 19 level 2 English and maths

Suitable for teachers, curriculum leaders and senior leaders of level 2 English and maths.

The guide offers practical, evidence-based strategies to strengthen teaching quality and improve learner progress while recognising additional challenges in this setting. It demonstrates how to integrate English and maths into vocational learning by drawing on case studies from high-performing colleges.

Other helpful resources

JISC Jisc Cybercyber Securitysecurity 

Suitable for all college corporations.

More16 informationquestions canyou beneed foundto onask the JISC Cyber Security website. How to assess your cyber security posture is a useful documentchecklist for governors to use to assess thetheir college’s position on cyber security.

Support available from DfE

Independent business reviewsreview

Suitable for FE colleges and lenders.

Independent business reviews (IBRIBRs) 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. guidance.

Support available from our delivery partners

Crown Commercial ServiceService: 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.

LeadershipEducation andTraining GovernanceFoundation: Programmesleadership – The Education and Traininggovernance Foundationprogrammes

Open to all colleges.

The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) offerdelivers 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,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 beis foundavailable on the ETF website. website.

HelpGovernors tofor recruitSchools: information on recruiting governors for college boardboards

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 thatstrong thegovernance, collegea ishigh-performing effectivelycollege delivering the education and skillsstudent thatsuccess.

More areinformation needed,is notavailable juston locallythe Governors but also for theSchools UK. 

Morewebsite. informationDfE isguidance availableon on recruiting an FE governor and onis the Governoralso for Schools website.available.

FocusingEducation onSupport: yourhelp mentalto wellbeingfocus andon helpmental wellbeing

Open to all colleges.

ThisThe service,Education Support service, funded by DfE, is for Principals,principals and CEOs of FE colleges, and senior leaders reporting directly to thethem. 

It Principaloffers or CEO) in FE colleges. Education Support gives you a safe and confidential space to talk about,about and process what is going on for you at work. YouParticipants will work with qualified and experienced supervisors to focus on yourtheir mental wellbeing and help you develop new coping strategies to feel more fulfilled and in control. YouThe will receive 6 free one-to-one sessions are conducted by Zoom or telephone,telephone whichand are completely confidential. For those who need it, wethere canis also offer access to counselling, delivered by qualified BACPBritish accreditedAssociation counsellors.

Morefor informationCounselling on wellbeingand supportPsychotherapy canaccredited be found on the Education Support website.counsellors.

Contact us

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