Why the frontend looks different
We switched to the DfE Frontend in our most recent sprint.
Because we're a service hosted on education.gov.uk rather than on GOV.UK we cannot use the GOV.UK header or GDS Transport typeface.
Consistency with other products and services in the portfolio
Changing to DfE Frontend has benefits for our users (civil servants).
The products and services in the portfolio, all of which our users use or work adjacently to, will share the same appearance and branding.
This should help us to use shared components and patterns consistently and provide users with a relatively smooth transition between each of the products and services.
Reassuring users
The change to DfE Frontend could also provide confidence to users.
The visual difference should indicate to users that they're not working on a GOV.UK thing that might change information across government but that they are working on a DfE thing that will update information within the department.
This can be a reassuring benefit to new users who may feel nervous about something that looks more like what they're used to seeing when using GOV.UK services as a citizen.
Our products and services now using DfE Frontend
We now have several of our products and services in Regional Services Division using DfE Frontend:
- Find information about academies and trusts
- Manage free school projects
- Complete conversions, transfers and changes