diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 00adb4b7..402ebb79 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-name: Template CI
+name: Java CI
 
 on:
   pull_request:
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
         with:
           distribution: 'temurin' # See 'Supported distributions' for available options
-          java-version: '17'
+          java-version: '21'
           cache: 'gradle'
       - name: Build
         run: ./gradlew check
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
index 73a369ba..5cc7af52 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ jobs:
     - uses: actions/setup-java@v4
       with:
         distribution: 'temurin' # See 'Supported distributions' for available options
-        java-version: '17'
+        java-version: '21'
 
 
     # Autobuild attempts to build any compiled languages  (C/C++, C#, Go, or Java).
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-openapi.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish-openapi.yaml
index 015eba22..8bfa9cfd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish-openapi.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-openapi.yaml
@@ -11,4 +11,4 @@ jobs:
       SWAGGER_PUBLISHER_API_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.SWAGGER_PUBLISHER_API_TOKEN }}
     with:
       test_to_run: 'uk.gov.hmcts.reform.demo.openapi.OpenAPIPublisherTest'
-      java_version: 17
+      java_version: '21'
diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 72615313..9a80cf7e 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -132,13 +132,6 @@ repositories {
   }
 }
 
-ext {
-  log4JVersion = "2.25.0"
-  logbackVersion = "1.5.18"
-}
-
-ext['snakeyaml.version'] = '2.0'
-
 dependencies {
   implementation group: 'org.springframework.boot', name: 'spring-boot-starter-web'
   implementation group: 'org.springframework.boot', name: 'spring-boot-starter-actuator'
@@ -148,11 +141,6 @@ dependencies {
 
   implementation group: 'com.github.hmcts.java-logging', name: 'logging', version: '6.1.9'
 
-  implementation group: 'org.apache.logging.log4j', name: 'log4j-api', version: log4JVersion
-  implementation group: 'org.apache.logging.log4j', name: 'log4j-to-slf4j', version: log4JVersion
-  implementation group: 'ch.qos.logback', name: 'logback-classic', version: logbackVersion
-  implementation group: 'ch.qos.logback', name: 'logback-core', version: logbackVersion
-
   testImplementation group: 'org.springframework.boot', name: 'spring-boot-starter-test'
   testImplementation group: 'io.rest-assured', name: 'rest-assured', version: '5.5.5'
 }