DfE to publish college enrichment framework following curriculum review

The Department for Education (DfE) is preparing to publish a new framework establishing enrichment goals for further education colleges, responding to findings from a recent curriculum and assessment review that identified inconsistent quality across the sector. Expected this week, the guidance will set clear standards for enrichment activities—those essential components of college life that extend beyond formal qualifications and contribute to student development. For local authorities overseeing skills strategies, this represents a significant policy development affecting post-16 provision and college accountability. The framework emerges from broader concerns about variability in curriculum delivery and underscores the government's commitment to standardising quality across further education. Lead Members with responsibility for economic development and young people's pathways should note how these enrichment standards may influence local skills planning and the preparation of students for employment or higher education.