PrepareSubmit forfinancial thedata for FE datacolleges collection – dry run 2026 to 2027

FE colleges must now submit granulardetailed (granular) actual spend informationdata 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 runningconducting a dry run data collection,collection soto allow both DfE and and the sector canto test the processes required to meet central government financial reporting obligations. WeTo support this, we have prepared a chartdata ofcollection accountsworkbook mapping spreadsheet 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.

WeTo expectprepare, to launch the data collection process in June 2026. We will give detailed information and a deadline when the submission window opens.

For now, you should:

• read ourthe guidance document, chartFE offinancial accountsreporting guidancedry forrun: theApril dry2026 runto March 2027 (PDF, 5091.62 KBMB, 1741 pages), to understand what the chartdata of accounts is for and its structurerequirements
• map your account codes to the FE chart of accounts

CompleteSubmission the mapping worksheettimetable

WhenThe youschedule completefor the submissions,2026 youto will2027 mapdry yourrun existingsubmissions localis:

Collection	Data codesPeriod	Collection toOpens	Collection theCloses
Quarter standardised1 chartcollection	April of2026 accountsto codes. YouJune should2026	1 beginJuly developing2026	28 yourAugust local2026
Quarter mappings2 collection	July 2026 to theSeptember DfE2026	1 chartOctober of2026	20 accountsNovember codes2026
Quarter as3 earlycollection	October as2026 possible,to beforeDecember we2026	18 releaseJanuary the2027	19 dataFebruary 2027
Quarter 4 collection	January form.2027 Preparingto earlyMarch will2027	19 helpApril to2027	21 makeMay 2027

Complete the submissiondata process smooth.

submission

UseWe thehave provided a single mappingdata worksheetcollection workbook (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 21612.8 KBMB) to douse this.across Thisthe hasfull 312 tabs,month which show:period.

• initial

  When instructionsyou andcomplete athe disclaimer

• asubmissions, listyou ofwill codes,need onto themap ‘chartyour ofexisting accounts’local tab
• codes to the worksheetstandardised toDfE complete,chart onof accounts codes. Use the mapping worksheets in the ‘mapping’workbook tab

to do this.

TheDetailed mappinginstructions sectionare ofavailable in the guidancemapping documentsection explainsof how to complete the worksheet.guidance document.

You shouldwill generally only need to complete the mapping exercise once. You will only need to update itthis 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 AprilJune 2026, to helplaunch youthe todata preparecollection forand thesupport chartyour of accounts.preparation.

These calls will:

• giveprovide an overview of the chart of accounts
• walktake you through the codesdata andcollection mapping you needworkbook
• outline whatexpectations wefor expecteach from your submissionssubmission
• giveoffer youan aopportunity chance to ask questions

TheyWebinar are on:dates:

• 2122 April,June, at 10am2.30pm
• 2223 April,June, at 2pm10.30am
• 2324 April,June, at 10am2.30pm
• 2825 April,June, at 2pm10.30am
• 29 April,June, at 10am2.30pm
• 30 April,June, at 2pm10.30am

Register for a callwebinar on Eventbrite. Your confirmation email will include instructionsjoining on how to join the call.instructions.

WeAdditional sessions will hostbe moreheld calls during both the launch period,period and eachsubsequent timedata wecollection collect data.cycles.

Get otherfurther support

If you have any queries, contact us through the customer help portal and: and:

• select the query type ‘DfE returns‘Data andreturns, datacollections and requests’
• select ‘Financial returns’ and ‘Other’
• enterselect “FE‘Submit financial data collection –for dryfurther run”education incolleges’
• select the ‘Addappropriate aoption shortfrom title’the fieldlist