FE Capital Transformation
DFE · DFE_0015_2021-Q3
Department page: Department for Education
| Data as at | Rating | End date | Whole-life cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2024 | Amber (NISTA's independent assessment) | 31 March 2026 | Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests. |
| March 2025 | Amber (the department's own assessment) | 31 March 2026 | Section 43 - Commercial interests |
| March 2026 | Amber (the department's own assessment) | 30 September 2029 | £2,057.2m (in 2024/25 prices) |
Each year’s cost is shown with its price basis. Costs are not compared between years: the March 2024 and March 2025 reports state no price basis, and from March 2026 costs are in 2024/25 prices.
The department’s commentary
This is the department’s own commentary. It may use different prices from the table above, so its figures may not match.
March 2026
Rating: The delivery confidence is Amber and is moving towards Green. With the majority of projects completed or in contract, the risk of procurement pressures across the programme due to inflationary and market pressures has been reduced. This change in delivery confidence is driven by sustained progress in progressing projects into contract and to completion. Active engagement with FE colleges and key stakeholders remains critical to managing any affordability challenges in the projects that are not yet in contract. Looking ahead, progressing the small number of remaining projects into contract is the key priority. These tend to be the most multifaceted projects. Delivery confidence will become green when these schemes proceed into contract mitigating the risk of cost escalation.
Schedule: The project's end-date at 25/26-Q4 has changed to 30/09/2029 reflecting the timelines of the small number of remaining multifaceted projects.
Cost: Whole Life Costs are based on the latest spending review which was agreed Spring 2025.
March 2025
Rating: Compared to financial year 23/24-Q4, the Infrastructure Project Authority's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 24/25-Q4 remained at AMBER. This is primarily due to the following factors‚ Section 43 - Commercial interests.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 23/24-Q4, the project's end-date at 24/25-Q4 remained at 31/03/2026. This is primarily due to the following factors‚ The programme comprises multiple rebuilding projects across college campus sites nationwide, with the majority complete by March 2026.
Cost: Section 43 - Commercial interests
Source: NISTA Annual Report 2024-25 (data)
March 2024
Rating: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the Infrastructure Project Authority's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 23/24-Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. The Delivery Confidence Assessment is Amber. Delivery is split into 3 phases, Phase 1 is complete and Phase 2 and 3 are progressing well albeit slightly delayed compared to original forecasts. Managing cost pressure is a key challenge across the programme due to inflationary and market pressures, however active engagement with key stakeholders is supporting the programme affordability challenges and enabling positive progress.
Schedule: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the project's end-date at 23/24-Q4 increased from 2025-06-30 to 2026-03-31. This is primarily due to the following factors. The programme comprises multiple rebuilding projects across college campus sites nationwide. We anticipate nearly all projects will be in construction by June 2025, with the new and improved facilities becoming operational by March 2027, to support the government's commitment to level up skills and training opportunities for people across the country.
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Commercial Interests) - Commercial interests.
Source: IPA Annual Report 2023-24 (data)
Names, figures, dates, ratings and commentary are as the department reported them. Where a rating, cost or date is withheld, the file’s wording is shown. Every major project →