EFA e-bulletin for academies: 11 September 2014
Published 12 September 2014
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1. Information: academy accounting officer letter
Peter Lauener, chief executive of the Education Funding Agency has written to all accounting officers of academy, free school, UTC and studio school trusts.
The letter reflects on the accounting officer’s key responsibilities and highlights any changes. You are encouraged to share it with your trustees and senior leadership team.
2. Action: new academy trusts intending to defer or submit dormant annual accounts
New academy trusts that were incorporated on or before 28 February 2014 are required to prepare their first accounts from the date of incorporation up to 31 August 2014. This may also include academy trusts that have not yet opened.
Trusts that were incorporated on or after 1 March 2014 may defer preparation of their first accounts to 31 August 2015.
If a new trust intends to defer, or to submit dormant accounts, they must notify EFA by emailing academy.questions@education.gsi.gov.uk by 30 September 2014. You can find further information in sections 1.4 and 1.5 of the Academies Accounts Direction 2013 to 2014.
3. Information: 2014 to 2015 payments information published
EFA has published a brief guide for academies which provides more information about the short descriptions you see on remittance advice notes.
It includes information about each funding element and indicates when payments are made throughout the year.
4. Action: sixth-form funding allocations 2015 to 2016 – recording planned hours in autumn census
Schools and academies with sixth forms are now required to collect planned hours data for 16 to 19 year old, EFA-funded students in the annual school census.
This will allow calculation of key elements of the funding formula, notably, the sixth-form student funding bands for 2015 to 2016 funding allocations.
You can check that planned hours for each student have been recorded in line with the published school census guidance, in advance of the 29 October deadline for return of the autumn school census information.
5. Reminder: 16 to 19 funding - maths and English condition of funding
Students without a GCSE A*-C in either maths or English will need to study those subjects. It becomes a condition of funding that they do so from this academic year.
EFA has published further guidance on this policy, including a list of approved qualifications in maths and English.
6. Information: pupil premium awards 2015
Entries are now open for the 2015 pupil premium awards that recognise and reward up to 500 schools doing the most to improve outcomes for their disadvantaged pupils.