Government introduces Regional Improvement Teams to help underperforming colleges to turn things around.
In a press release today (10th November 2025) the DfE have laid out plans to introduce “Regional Improvement Teams in new standards push, which will help to break the link between background and success through the government’s Plan for Change
Government will also invest nearly £800m extra into funding for 16–19-year-olds next year (2026-7). Coming from the existing Spending Review settlement, this funding will support an additional 20,000 students.”
The key changes outlined in the press release focus on raising standards in Further Education (FE) colleges in the UK, primarily through the introduction of Regional Improvement Teams.
Here is a breakdown of the key changes and how they are expected to affect schools and colleges in the UK:
Key Changes in the Press Release
1. Introduction of Regional Improvement Teams
- What they are: New teams made up of sector and industry experts who will analyze college performance, offer support, and advise on improvements.
- Their focus: Improving individual college performance, building collaboration between colleges and universities, and ensuring colleges meet local skills needs, including improving outcomes for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
- Rollout: They will be rolled out nationally by the next academic year (2026-2027), targeting underperforming colleges.
2. New Intervention Triggers
- Change: For the first time, a college’s leadership can be formally changed if Ofsted judges that its contribution to meeting local skills needs requires “urgent improvement.”
- Impact: This links intervention not just to overall performance, but also to how effectively a college is training students for the local job market.
3. Increased Funding and Support Measures
- Funding: Government will invest nearly £800 million extra into funding for 16–19-year-olds in the 2026-2027 academic year, which is expected to support an additional 20,000 students.
- Teaching Standards: Colleges are expected to deliver at least 100 hours of face-to-face English and maths teaching for students who have not yet passed their GCSEs in those subjects, supported by targeted funding.
- Professional Development: New structured professional development for FE teachers will be implemented.
Effect on Schools and Colleges in the UK
The changes are primarily aimed at Further Education (FE) colleges, which educate 16–19-year-olds and adults.
On FE Colleges
- Improved Standards and Accountability: Colleges identified as underperforming will receive targeted and intensive support from the new Regional Improvement Teams, including regular monitoring visits and mandatory action plans, similar to the RISE teams in schools.
- Focus on Local Skills: Colleges will be under pressure to align their curriculum more closely with the needs of the local economy and industry, which could lead to changes in course offerings.
- Enhanced Support for Students: The increased funding and required 100 hours of English and maths teaching will directly benefit students, especially those struggling with core academic subjects, aiming to better prepare them for work or further study.
- Potential Leadership Changes: The new Ofsted trigger means college leadership could be replaced if they fail to meet local skills needs, adding a new dimension to accountability.
On Schools (Sixth Forms)
- Schools with sixth forms (for students aged 16-18) will likely not be directly affected by the new Regional Improvement Teams and intervention triggers, as those are specifically for FE colleges.
- However, the commitment to put further education “on an equal footing to university” and the general drive to raise standards could put pressure on all post-16 providers, including school sixth forms, to maintain high standards and outcomes.
- Sixth forms that receive 16-19 funding will benefit from the nearly £800 million extra investment announced for this age group in the 2026-2027 academic year.
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