Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 11 September 2024

Published 11 September 2024

Applies to England

Announcement: Transfer of ESFA functions into the Department for Education

Today, the Department for Education (DfE) announced the decision to transfer the current functions of the ESFA into the department.

This means that the ESFA as an executive agency will close on Monday 31 March 2025.

For more information on the transfer of functions to the department, read ESFA functions to move to the Department for Education.

A letter from David Withey, Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of ESFA, to accounting officers has been shared on GOV.UK.

For any further questions or support, visit the customer help portal.

Action: Recording your T Level data accurately

We calculate T Levels under- and over-delivery against your estimated numbers  by reviewing, in year, your student numbers submitted in your autumn census or R04. It is important your autumn census or R04 data is recorded correctly as we will not accept business cases to change these numbers. 

Making errors in your T Level data recording could have a significant financial impact. It could lead to a larger than expected recovery of funding at the T Level funding reconciliation point in early 2025. 

We strongly encourage you to submit your autumn school census or R04 before the return deadlines (Wednesday 6 November 2024 for the autumn census and Thursday 5 December 2024 for the R04) so that you can review your submitted data and amend where necessary. 

The T Levels funding guidance explains how to record your data correctly.

Information: Early career framework mentor backfill and time off timetable grants – 2023 to 2024 allocations and payment arrangements

ESFA will publish allocations for the 2023 to 2024 academic year for early career framework (ECF) mentor backfill and time off timetable grants before the end of the 2024 autumn term.

We will make allocation payments for the 2023 to 2024 academic year for both grants to local authorities for maintained schools at the end of November 2024 and directly to academies at the start of December 2024.

You can read more information about the backfill payments for time off timetable for early career framework (ECF) mentor training and the funding for time off timetable for early career teachers and mentors who participated in the national roll out of the early career framework reforms.

If you do not have a training provider or have any queries, contact continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.

Information: Common themes arising from ESFA’s assurance work

We have published the common themes arising from ESFA’s assurance work. The outcomes of our assurance work relate to the financial management and governance of the academies sector in 2023 to 2024 and its use of public funds.

Highlighting common themes in our work aims to enable the sector to improve the quality of its financial governance. The briefing is for academy trust accounting officers, finance staff and trustees. Auditors of academy trust accounts may also find it helpful.

Information: Update to academy information on GOV.UK

We have updated the following information for the 2024 to 2025 academic year:

• academies revenue funding allocations
• revenue funding: payments to academies
• academies planning calendar

Information: Procurement Act e-learning for procurement practitioners

If you are responsible for buying goods and services for your school you need to be aware of the new Procurement Act, (previously referred to as Transforming Public Procurement) that comes in from 30 October 2024. 

To support you, Kevin Draisey, Head of Procurement Operations for Get help buying for schools, provides an update on the new Transforming Public Procurement (TPP) e-learning available for procurement practitioners in schools and multi-academy trusts.

Events and webinars: Academy Finance Professionals September Power Hour – Academy trust handbook

Thursday 12 September 2024, 3pm to 4pm

Events and webinars: Energy cost recovery for your school or trust

Tuesday 17 September 2024, 11am to 11:30am

Events and webinars: Risk Protection Arrangement members only – Risk Assessment and Competent Person

Wednesday 25 September 2024, 10am to midday

Events and webinars: The Schools Commercial Team Autumn webinars

Helping those who buy for schools save time, buy compliantly, and get great value.

View the full schedule and register to attend.