Buying for schools
Use DfE-approved buying options to buy goods and services for your school, get better value and be compliant with procurement regulations.
Applies to England
Buying routes: supporting compliance with the procurement regulations聽
Once you know what you鈥檙e buying and how much you鈥檙e spending, you鈥檒l need to identify the buying routes that are permitted by the procurement regulations.聽
Refer to the 5 buying routes to help you decide which one is best for you to follow.聽
DfE-approved buying options聽
We鈥檝e reviewed and approved buying options for schools to buy goods and services. The approved buying options are listed by category on our online service Get help buying for schools.聽
Use the Get help buying for schools service to find DfE-approved buying options that offer:聽
- compliance with the relevant procurement legislation聽
- suppliers pre-checked by the provider of the approved buying option聽
- pre-agreed terms and conditions聽
More help and support for your procurement 聽
Register for free approved training on the Procurement Act 2023聽
You can access 10 free e-learning modules on the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025.聽
Get guidance and training on managing a contract聽
Refer to the writing and managing a contract guidance, which includes information about training.聽
Get support from other schools聽
To get support, you can join or create a school business professionals network to connect and share information with your peers.聽
Sign up for free webinars and events about buying for schools聽
You can to help your school save time and get good value when buying goods and services.聽
Stay up to date聽
To learn more about buying for schools, you can:聽
- follow on LinkedIn for regular updates about how we鈥檙e supporting schools to make the most of non-staff spend聽
- read our to learn about what we鈥檙e working on now and what we鈥檒l be doing next聽
Help for governing boards
Governing boards of maintained schools and academy trusts can find out more from the guide to from the National Governance Association (NGA).
Updates to this page
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Updated guidance for the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
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Added a link to the guide on procurement in schools and trusts from the the National Governance Association (NGA).
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Added information on free approved training for the new Procurement Act 2023 and how to register on the central digital platform.
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Added a link to 'Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) - how procurement will change for some schools and trusts'.
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First published.