Microsoft 365 Education changes — Digital Confidence

Based on Microsoft's announcement of 5 November 2026, checked on 5 November 2026.

Source: Microsoft 365 Education portfolio evolution and Microsoft's questions and answers. Prices are not yet known: Microsoft has published none. Confirm anything you act on with your Microsoft partner or account team.

The dates for everyone

1 October 2026	A7, the new top edition, goes on sale.
5 November 2026	Office 365 A1 is no longer sold direct from Microsoft's website.
1 December 2026	A2, the new lowest paid edition, goes on sale.
1 May 2027	Office 365 A1 is no longer sold through partners. From your first renewal on or after this date, online services bought through Academic Volume Licensing have one price whatever your price level.
1 January 2028	Office 365 A1, the Student Use Benefit and free former-pupil mailboxes end. A0, and the new A3 and A5, go on sale. From your first renewal on or after this date, the 100 TB of shared storage goes and storage depends on your licences.

Your licences

Your IT provider can read these numbers from the Microsoft 365 admin centre, under Billing, Licences. Leave a box blank if it does not apply or you do not know. Microsoft calls staff "faculty".

Staff on Office 365 A1

The free edition

Pupils on Office 365 A1

Staff on A3

Office 365 A3 or Microsoft 365 A3

Pupils on A3

Staff on A5

Office 365 A5 or Microsoft 365 A5

Pupils on A5

Pupils on the Student Use Benefit

Free pupil licences that come with paid staff licences

Former pupils with a free mailbox

Exchange Online for Alumni

Staff who need a Microsoft account

Everyone on the staff who signs in, paid licence or not. Used to check the free A0 pupil licence.

Do your pupils use Windows devices for their learning? Yes, all or nearly all Some do No, they use other devices Not sure

How you buy

Who do you buy your Microsoft licences through? A Microsoft partner, paying each month or yearCloud Solution Provider (CSP). Most schools that buy through their IT provider are here. An Enrollment for Education Solutions agreementEES: a Volume Licensing agreement, usually three years, counted on staff numbers. An Open Value Subscription or School agreementOVS-ES or School: older Volume Licensing agreements. Direct from Microsoft, free licences onlyYou signed up on Microsoft's website and pay nothing. Not sure

When does your agreement next renew?

The date your licences renew or your agreement ends. Last year's date is fine; we count forward.

How long is each term? One year Three years

Storage you use now, in terabytes (TB)

Optional. In the Microsoft 365 admin centre under Reports, or ask your IT provider. 1 TB is 1,024 GB.