EFA e-bulletin for academies: 20 March 2014
Published 20 March 2014
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1. Changing the way the EFA works
EFA is changing the way it works to make it easier for you to find the information you need and carry out the tasks you need to do.
Over the next 12 months there will be a number of changes in the systems EFA uses and the information it provides.
EFA has re-launched its e-bulletin and moved all its content to GOV.UK.
A number of document collections will help you find our key information. In addition, the search is much improved, and you can find EFA material in the ‘departments and policy’ tab.
EFA is also closing its old Information Management Portal and will be launching a new ‘document exchange’.
For this to work, all EFA-funded providers will need to sign up to use the Department for Education ‘Secure Access’ system. If you’re not already registered EFA will contact you by email shortly so you can sign up.
You can read more about all these changes in EFA’s news story.
2. Visit the EFA at the Academies Show
EFA will be on a stand at the Academies Show on Wednesday 30 April at ExCeL London.
3. Action: Academy admission appeals complaints form
EFA will shortly be launching a new online form for parents who wish to complain about academy’s admission appeals process.
EFA has also produced a new factsheet to help parents understand the types of admission appeals complaints the EFA can investigate. EFA ask that clerks include a copy of the factsheet with the panel’s decision letter.
4. Reminder: Academy admissions 2015 to 2016
All admissions authorities must have determined their admissions arrangements for 2015 by 15 April 2014, even if they are unchanged. They must also publish and send them to their local authority and, where appropriate, their faith body before 1 May 2014.
Arrangements must be clear and transparent and easily accessible to parents. The admissions arrangements must be published for all points of entry, including the sixth form if applicable.
5. Action: March accounts return due 27 June 2014
Academy trusts that did not prepare audited financial statements as at 31 August 2013 or opened new academies between 1 September 2013 and 31 March 2014 are required to submit a March 2014 accounts return by 27 June 2014.
6. Information: Validating academy trusts’ 2012 to 2013 accounts returns
EFA’s delivery partner Deloitte is validating academy trusts’ 2012 to 2013 accounts returns. This needs to take place before they can be consolidated into our annual accounts. EFA has now published the validation tests and standard questions Deloitte will use.
7. New academies: Financial Management and Governance Self-Assessment
EFA has published a revised financial management and governance self-assessment (FMGS) to help academies comply with the requirements of the Academies Financial Handbook. New academies must submit their FMGS or an alternative method of assurance within four months of opening.
8. Information: Grant to employ a school business manager
The Department for Education (DfE) is making a grant available for small groups of schools, consisting mainly of primaries, to collaborate to employ a School Business Manager in a leadership role. This match-funded grant of £25,000 is for the financial year 2014 to 2015.
DfE expect to invite applications for the grant within the next month and will release more information once the process is finalised. For further summary information before the grant is launched, and to be added to the mailing list, please email sbm.grant@education.gsi.gov.uk
9. Information: Final pupil premium payments
The final pupil premium payment for the 2013 to 2014 financial year will be made on 4 April.
A separate remittance to the monthly general annual grant (GAG) advice will be issued detailing the payment. Further information on pupil premium payments is available in EFA’s detailed guide.
10. Information: Post-16 funding in 2014 to 2015
EFA has written to all post-16 institutions that it funds with information about funding for students aged 16 to 19 and high needs students aged 16 to 25 in 2014 to 2015.
Each institution will receive a statement of its post-16 funding allocation for 2014 to 2015 by the end of March 2014.
11. 16 to 19 Bursary Fund consultation report
In May 2013 the Department for Education (DfE) launched a consultation about changing the method for allocating the discretionary element of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.
The consultation asked for views on the best data to use to calculate the bursary allocation. It also asked whether an uplift should be applied to help with transport costs for students living in rural areas.
DfE has published its response to the results of the consultation, together with an impact assessment of the proposed changes.
12. Links to other items of interest
The Department for Education has published an advice document and toolkit to help schools providing universal free school meals for infants.
Information about the new Maths Hubs and how schools can apply to lead one in their area has been published.
The Department for Education has published a suite of papers setting out research priorities across education and children’s services, including papers on academies and free schools, UTCs and studio schools.