Trackers

Trackers

This topic is a research resource for practitioners tracking key developments in relation to:

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education
•
public procurement
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coronavirus (COVID-19)
•
Brexit

The Education tracker

The Education tracker provides a fully comprehensive education resource covering relating to primary, secondary, further and higher education. It covers current legislative developments, introduction of new statutory guidance, consultations and other developments of interest together with key education cases.

A series of archived education trackers are available:

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Education tracker 2022 [Archived]
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Education

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Latest Local Government News

Cabinet Office updates PPN 013: Using standard contracts

The Cabinet Office has updated Procurement Policy Note 013: Using standard contracts (PPN 013), which provides in-scope organisations with guidance on standardisation of terms and conditions in public contracts. PPN 013 applies to all central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Other public sector contracting authorities may wish to apply the guidance. PPN 013 has been updated to expand the appropriate use of the Short Form Contract, allowing in-scope organisations to utilise the Short Form Contract for non-complex above-threshold procurements, within the relevant limits, where it is proportionate and appropriate to do so. In these cases, authorities are advised to consider including additional clauses from the Mid-Tier Contract to cover required terms which are missing from the Short Form Contract. PPN 013 has also been updated to reflect terminology introduced by the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) and the Procurement Regulations 2024. For procurements commenced before the PA 2023 go-live on 24 February 2025, authorities should continue to refer to PPN 08/23.

Cabinet Office updates PPNs on data protection and payment spot checks

The Cabinet Office has added two new Procurement Policy Notes (PPNs) to the suite of PPNs republished in conjunction with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA 2023) go-live—PPN 020: Guidance on data protection legislation and PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts. PPN 020: Guidance on data protection legislation provides updated guidance on relevant data protection requirements under the UK GDPR and the UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) governing the export of personal data from the UK. PPN 020 applies with immediate effect. It replaces PPN 03/22 which contained streamlined guidance and updated model clauses to take account of the UK’s exit from the EU. It also includes guidance on international transfers of personal data. PPN 020 does not constitute a change in policy, but in-scope organisations should circulate and adhere to the guidance and use the updated model clauses at Annex A for new contracts. PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts provides guidance and templates for contracting authorities to spot check public contract supply chains to ensure suppliers meet the payment terms set out in PA 2023. PPN 021 includes additional guidance on how in-scope organisations should conduct spot checks to ensure the correct payment terms are being included and adhered to by suppliers, plus model terms at Annex A which support spot checks being carried out. PPN 021 applies from 1 October 2025. Both PPNs apply to all central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Welsh Government launches automatic voter registration pilots under 2024 Act

The Welsh Government has announced the launch of automatic voter registration pilots under the Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024. Four local authorities Carmarthenshire, Powys, Gwynedd and Newport will test different approaches to automatic registration using council-held data. The pilots include a 60 day response period for potential electors and privacy safeguards excluding automatically registered voters from the open register. The Electoral Commission will evaluate the pilots by the end of 2025, with findings informing potential nationwide implementation requiring further legislation.

DfE updates T Level funding guidance for 2025-2026 academic year

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updates to the T Level funding guide introducing new funding rates for the 2025-2026 academic year. The guidance modification follows DfE's absorption of Education and Skills Funding Agency responsibilities from 31 March 2025. The update applies to institutions delivering T Levels for students aged 16-19 and those up to age 25 with education, health and care plans.

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