Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for academies: 17 November 2016

Published 17 November 2016

This correspondence was withdrawn on 20 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

1. Reminder: Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2017 to 2018

If you’re intending to apply to the Condition Improvement Fund for the first time, please ensure you’ve registered to use the portal by 5pm 30 November 2016.

Guidance on the CIF application process is available on GOV.UK. There is also information on registering for the CIF portal to help you through the application process.

CIF is an annual bidding round for single academy trusts, smaller multi-academy trusts (MATs) and sixth-form colleges. It’s mostly allocated to schools to address a significant condition need with a small proportion allocated to high performing academies and colleges to expand, to address overcrowding or create additional places. The deadline for all applicants to submit an application is 12 noon 9 December 2016.

If you’re applying to CIF for an expansion project, please check whether this requires significant change. You must apply for significant change approval where it’s required, in parallel with your CIF application.

2. Information: new energy efficiency loan fund

We’ve launched, in partnership with Salix Finance, a new energy efficiency loan fund for sixth form colleges and academies. The Salix Energy Efficiency Fund (SEEF) is available to sixth form colleges applying for loans to carry out capital works that improve energy efficiency.

3. Information: English and maths condition of funding tolerance

For the 2015 to 2016 academic year, funding reductions for non-compliance with the 16 to 19 English and maths policy will only apply to institutions where more than 5% of students by value without A* to C GCSE in English and/or maths did not enrol on an approved qualification in these subjects.

Funding reductions for these institutions will be removed at half the national funding rate above the tolerance, as was the case last year. Reductions will apply to 2017 to 2018 allocations.

Ministers have decided not to impose the full funding reductions in recognition of the continued efforts of post-16 providers to deliver the 16 to 19 English and maths policy. The sector has maintained compliance at around 97% while rising to the challenge of the new requirement to enrol full time students with prior attainment of a grade D on GCSE retakes. There is still progress that needs to be made in achieving full compliance. So we will be requiring any school, college or provider that isn’t fully compliant to submit a robust compliance plan. We will provide further details to institutions about the compliance plan in due course.

4. Information: publication of 2017 to 2018 schools funding: historic commitments – supplementary guidance for local authorities

We’ve published 2017 to 2018 schools funding: historic commitments supplementary guidance for local authorities and schools forums on what can be funded centrally as an acceptable historic commitment under the regulations. It includes examples of funded activities and effective reporting to schools forums.

This follows the exercise conducted earlier in the year to collect information on the historical commitments LAs expect to fund in the 2017 to 2018 financial year. They form an important part of the local schools funding model so schools should be aware of what is being proposed locally.

Contact your schools forum representative for more information.