Guidance

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges and other 16 to 19 providers: 19 June 2014

Published 19 June 2014

This guidance was withdrawn on

This is an old edition of the EFA e-bulletin, so has been archived. Please view our most recent e-bulletins and web pages for up-to-date information.

© Crown copyright 2014

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-19-june-2014/efa-e-bulletin-for-schools-colleges-and-other-16-to-19-providers-19-june-2014

1. Contacts

All 16 to 19 providers can get in touch with Education Funding Agency (EFA) through the relevant territorial inbox, unless a different email address is specified in an article.

16 to 19 providers - northern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in north west, north east and Yorkshire and the Humber with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - central and south west territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south west, west midlands and east midlands with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - southern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south east, east of England and London with queries for the Education Funding Agency

Academies should contact the Academies Enquiry Service.

EFA questions

For schools, local authorities, other education institutions and providers, accountants, auditors and other professional advisers with queries for the Education Funding Agency

2. Action: Priority School Building Programme 2 applications

The online expression of interest application system for the second phase of the Priority School Building Programme (PSBP2) has now opened.

Local authorities, diocese, and academy trusts have until 3pm on Monday 21 July 2014 to submit expressions of interest for whole school sites or multiple individual buildings.

PSBP2 was launched on 1 May 2014 to undertake major rebuilding and refurbishment projects to address the needs of those schools in the very worst condition. Further details, including full information for applicants, are available on GOV.UK.

3. Information: FE Commissioner’s open letter to the sector

The FE Commissioner, Dr David Collins CBE, has written an open letter to the sector sharing his thoughts on some of the financial challenges that colleges are facing and how they could be addressed.

4. Information: planned hours review

EFA is conducting a planned hours review this summer.

This is to ensure EFA understands the increases in 16 to 19 programme size, based on planned hours, that have been indicated in the ILR returns (R06) for 2013 to 2014.

EFA will ask institutions that have had the most significant increase in full time programmes to complete a straight forward return highlighting the main reasons for the increase.

Institutions selected for funding audit, that have had an increase in full time programmes, will also be asked to complete this return.

Planned hours testing will be included in the funding audit work conducted. To be eligible for funding all planned hours, whether for qualification or non-qualification activity must:

  • contribute towards a coherent study programme for the student

  • be timetabled, organised or supervised by the institution

  • be within the institution’s normal working pattern

All institutions should ensure that planned hours recorded for the 2013 to 2014 academic year meet these criteria.

EFA will continue to monitor the returns it receives to decide if further audit work is necessary.

5. Action: Sixth-form colleges accounts direction

The Skills Funding Agency and EFA have jointly published the 2013 to 2014 accounts direction for sixth-form colleges and further education colleges.

Sixth-form colleges must return their audited financial statements and associated documents for the year ending 31 July 2014 to the EFA by 31 December 2014.

The supporting handbook which gives guidance to colleges on the application of the accounts direction will be published shortly by the Association of Colleges.

6. Information: property data surveys are published

EFA is sharing more than 19,000 school building surveys with local authorities, diocesan boards and academy trusts.

This follows the Property Data Survey Programme (PDSP), which gathered building condition data on all schools across England except those classified as modernised. EFA intends to use this data to help inform how it allocates funding with data on condition needs.

EFA will send all relevant local authorities, diocesan boards and academy trusts e-mailed details of the data release with supporting information and contact details for queries. The survey reports will be published from 16 June in phases, completing in September 2014.

EFA shaped its approach for structuring and disseminating this information following a successful pilot scheme earlier this year.

7. Consultation: publishing performance measures

The Department for Education is seeking views on proposals for publicly funded schools and colleges to publish performance measures on their websites.

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