Written question asked by James McMurdock (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 12 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. It was answered by Josh MacAlister (Labour) on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Assessments: Software

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Department's press release entitled Government modernises exam records with new app published on 8 January 2026, how her Department calculated the £30 million per year saving in administrative costs by utilising the Education Records app.

Answer: The £30 million saving is based on reducing administrative processes in further education and apprenticeships. Extensive user research with colleges identified activities that could be eliminated or streamlined, including photocopying documentation, manually matching emails with applications, and reducing data entry and correction through improved quality. Other efficiencies include removing support time for paperwork, eliminating manual searches for unique learner numbers, and reducing checks on prior attainment to simplify enrolment for mathematics and English. These changes will also reduce delays caused by missing documentation and cut follow-up activities linked to incomplete records.

Secondary information