Software Value Added Reseller (VAR) for Schools and the Department for Education

The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking to establish a Value Added Reseller (VAR) model to simplify software procurement and improve value for schools, trusts, and the department itself. This initiative, aligned with the Maximising Value for Pupils (MaxVP) programme launched in December 2025, addresses key challenges in school software spending including opaque pricing, complex licensing models, and inconsistent value delivery. A VAR model would aggregate demand across the education sector and DfE, enabling stronger commercial negotiations, improved pricing transparency, streamlined procurement routes, and reduced administrative burden on individual institutions. Suppliers interested in this opportunity should understand that the DfE seeks a unified commercial approach to deliver better outcomes for pupils through more efficient and sustainable software procurement practices that serve both the education sector and departmental needs.