Correspondence

ESFA e-bulletin for academies: 8 March 2018

Published 8 March 2018

This correspondence was withdrawn on 23 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

Applies to England

1. Information: letter from Eileen Milner to academy trusts

Eileen Milner, chief executive of the Education Skills Funding Agency, has written a letter to academy trusts outlining arrangements for academy trust financial returns for 2018 to 2019.

2. Information: academies budget forecast return outturn 2018

We’ve published the Excel workbook and guide to help trusts to prepare their budget forecast return outturn (BFRO) for 2018. We’ve enhanced the workbook to better reflect the online form and validations.

The BFRO online form will be available from 9 April 2018 and the deadline for submission is 21 May 2018.

3. Information: T levels implementation and next steps

We have published information on GOV.UK to inform post-16 providers about some of the activities we will be asking them to take part in up to August 2018 to help support them to implement T levels.

4. Reminder spring school census closure

We’ll close the spring school census 2018 database for amendments from schools and local authorities on 14 March 2018.

We’re aware that some returns have validation errors or queries that aren’t explained. If you have a validation query, you must explain this with enough detail so we can authorise the return.

You can read the guide to adding notepad entries for queries on the school census website.

5. Information: Asbestos Management Assurance Process (AMAP)

We have published the Asbestos Management Assurance Process (AMAP) online portal user-guide on GOV.UK.

We are asking Responsible Bodies to complete the AMAP. Responsible Bodies have a duty under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to manage any asbestos in their school buildings. The assurance process is aimed at Responsible Bodies to enable them to provide an assurance that their respective schools are compliant with asbestos management regulations.

All Responsible Bodies are expected to complete the AMAP and submit an assurance declaration by midday, on Thursday 31 May 2018. They will need to ensure that they include every school for which they are responsible in the AMAP declaration. Either they can complete all returns themselves or they can ask their schools to complete the information requested and then submit it to them for review. Responsible Bodies would still need to provide an assurance declaration.

The AMAP will not apply to other types of nursery schools or early years providers, FE and HE institutions and independent schools. While specialist post-16 institutions may have eligible state-funded pupils, those institutions will not be included.

6. Information: government Building Safety Programme (BSP) Advice

Following the tragic Grenfell fire, ESFA contacted academy trusts and other bodies responsible for schools to identify and support schools with any relevant buildings. This was to manage risks appropriately based on advice from the government’s Building Safety Programme.

While the Building Safety Programme focuses on residential buildings, advice is also relevant to local authorities and academy trusts to inform continuing work on building safety. You can keep up to date with advice from the government’s Building Safety Programme on GOV.UK.

We will take forward any relevant recommendations from the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety when it reports later this year.

7. Information: The Trust Network National Conference-Good Estate Management

The Trust Network: National Conference-Good Estate Management is on Wednesday 11 April 2018 at 9am at the Corby Business Academy.

Julian Wood, Acting Director of ESFA Capital Group will be the keynote speaker. Listen to ESFA updates on Good Estate Management the new Construction Framework, and ESFA Capital Procurement Strategy. There will be workshops on topics covering procurement, health and safety and building compliance and much more.

There will also be an opportunity to visit the exhibition mall for discussions with public sector framework providers and other exhibitors.

Book your place at The Trust Network National Conference. Attendance is at the conference is free, as is membership of the Trust Network for academy trusts.