Guidance

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges and other 16 to 19 providers: 2 October 2014

Published 2 October 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This guidance was withdrawn on

This is an old edition of the EFA e-bulletin, so has been archived.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-2-october-2014-issue-63/efa-e-bulletin-for-schools-colleges-and-other-16-to-19-providers-2-october-2014

1. Information: performance table measures - technical information

A new technical guide has been published which aims to help school sixth-forms and colleges understand how the 5 new 16 to 19 headline measures will be calculated.

The headline measures are progress, attainment, progress in English and maths (for students without a GCSE pass at A* to C in these subjects), retention, and destinations.

The new 16 to 19 accountability system begins in 2016. For students starting 2-year 16 to 18 courses this means the new accountability system will apply to outcomes for students starting courses in September 2014. The outcomes will be reported in 16 to 18 performance tables in January 2017.

2. Information: application process for inclusion on the approved list of independent special institutions

The latest application round for institutions applying for inclusion on the approved list of independent special institutions is open.

Applications must be submitted by 17 October and a revised list of approved independent special institutions will be published in December 2014.

Further information and the application form is available on GOV.UK.

3. Information: mapping of engagement programmes for young people

We have updated the document mapping engagement programmes currently available to support the participation of young people inEngland on GOV.UK.

The document was first published in July 2014.

4. Information: implementing the special educational needs reforms

The Department for Education have produced and published supplementary materials on the Association of College (AOC) website to assist the further education sector in implementing the special educational needs reforms.

They include:

  • an information pack.
  • a set of slides which institutions can use as they wish with staff and governors to help prepare them for the reforms
  • a Q & A with Edward Timpson

5. Information: recording high needs students in the 2013 to 2014 ILR - R14 data returns

EFA has published a technical guidance note on how high needs students (HNS) should be recorded in the Individualised Learner Record (ILR).

The 2013 to 2014 ILR specification states the Learning Support indicator (code ALS1) in the Learner Funding and Monitoring fields should only be used where a local authority has paid element 3 ‘top-up’ funding for an EFA funded student whose agreed support costs are greater than £6,000.

We encourage all institutions that return data through the ILR to review their recording of high needs students before the close of R14 on 24 October.

Institutions with questions about this should email their EFA territory.

6. Information: new academies welcome pack published

All new academies now receive a welcome pack to guide you through your first few months of opening on matters relating to funding, funding-agreement compliance, finance and financial assurance.

The pack includes details of key actions for you to fulfil within the first few months of opening, and contains links to more detailed information (including to other finance-related activities for which EFA is not responsible).

It also provides an introduction to EFA’s key services and systems and how to use these services successfully.

It will be updated regularly and is also a useful resource for established academies, as a reference for information on different aspects of academy business.

7. Information: funding for independent/state school partnerships (ISSPs)

The Department for Education is funding new independent/state school partnerships (ISSPs) for primary teaching.

Innovative schools with a commitment to long-term self-sufficiency should apply by 24 October.

8. Contacts

All 16 to 19 providers can get in touch with the 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 Academy Enquiries 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

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