ESFA Update academies: 14 December 2022
Updated 15 December 2022
Applies to England
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1. Information: coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery premium grant allocation for December 2022 now available
The recovery premium grant is part of the government’s package of funding to support pupils whose education has been impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19).
We have now published the allocations for December 2022 on GOV.UK.
2. Information: academies national non-domestic rates (NNDR) historical claims for unclaimed years
This message is for all academies in relation to NNDR.
Academies can submit historic claims for previously unclaimed years. This applies to financial years 2017 to 2018 up until 2021 to 2022, which have not been claimed for.
Claims can be submitted on the academies NNDR service.
Claims can be submitted up until 31 January 2023.
ESFA will not, under any circumstances, accept claims for previously unclaimed years after this deadline.
3. Information: academies national non-domestic rates (NNDR) new claims for 2022 to 2023
This message is for academies opted out of the new NNDR process. You can check if you still need to submit your own NNDR claim.
Academies that remain under the current NNDR arrangements because their billing authority has decided to not implement the new payment process for April 2022, should submit new claims for 2022 to 2023 by 31 January 2023.
Claims can be submitted on the academies NNDR service.
ESFA will not, under any circumstances, accept new claims after this deadline.
4. Information: academies national non-domestic rates (NNDR) adjustments to previous claims
This message is for all academies in relation to NNDR.
All academies and trusts can adjust previously paid NNDR claims for 2017 to 2018 to 2021 to 2022 using the academies NNDR service.
Claims can be submitted up until 31 January 2023.
ESFA will not, under any circumstances, accept adjustment claims after this deadline.
From April 2023 academies will only be able to submit adjustments for the previous financial year (2022 to 2023).
For academies whose billing authority has implemented the new payment process the previous financial year’s adjustments will be managed by the billing authority.
5. Information: academies land and building collection tool - sector dial-in for trusts.
The academies land and buildings collection tool (LBCT) will go live on 17 January 2023. The deadline for submission is Tuesday 21 February 2023.
In advance of the launch, and to help users prepare for the completion of the form, we’ll be hosting two Teams call for academy trusts to dial in and ask any questions about the LBCT return.
5.1 For new trusts that have opened after 31 August 2021
This session is for new trusts to ask questions about how to register and complete the online form for the first time. It will include a demonstration of the LBCT return.
The session is on Tuesday 10 January from 10:30 to 11:00.
Click here to join the meeting or alternatively, call via 0203 321 5238,,253 484 357# and when prompted, enter ID 253 484 357#.
5.2 For existing trusts
This session is for trusts who completed the return last year. There will be an opportunity to see the new ‘leased asset’ section of the form and to ask any questions about this new requirement or anything else LBCT related.
The session is on Tuesday 10 January from 11:30 to 12:00.
Click here to join the meeting or alternatively, call via: 0203 321 5238,,792 218 411# and when prompted enter ID 792 218 411#
You can read the LBCT summary guidance and access the optional LBCT workbook on GOV.UK.
6. Information: RPA members only - Competent Person and Risk Assessment Workshop
Willis Towers Watson is providing risk management support for all RPA members through audit, guidance and advice. As part of the risk management support RPA members are invited to a workshop covering the:
- Competent Person, including what’s legally required and their role in the risk management process
- role of the Competent Person in the Risk Assessment process
Only members/representatives of a school who are part of the RPA scheme are eligible to join the free Risk Management Workshops and checks will be made for any false representation.
7. Information: supporting schools to be energy efficient
Following the announcement of additional capital funding to help state schools with their energy efficiency, there are a number of energy efficiency frameworks, specifically designed to help schools, available on Find a Framework:
- Building supplies
- Energy performance of building services (energy audits)
- LED lighting
- Low energy lamps, light fittings and lighting products
- Renewable energy solutions
If you need any advice or guidance Get help buying for schools service is free and will help you secure great value for your school or trust.
8. Information: join these webinars on approved frameworks and see how you could save money for your school
Are you responsible for buying goods and services for your school? The DfE Schools Commercial Team (SCT) is offering advice to support schools to buy goods and services through the Buying for Schools programme.
The team are hosting free webinars on how using our approved frameworks could save you time and help your school get value for money.
You can find the full programme of webinars for the spring 2023 term online.
9. Information: ‘Money mules’ financial exploitation campaign
The National Crime Agency is running a campaign to raise awareness amongst young people of the risks of getting involved as a ‘money mule’.
Money mules are recruited by criminal groups to move criminal funds on their behalf, for example they might be asked to lend their bank account, carry cash, or make transactions in cryptocurrency, in return for a fee. This is also known as financial exploitation, because some young people may be victims of exploitation – groomed, tricked or coerced by criminals into acting as a mule.
Children can be exposed to recruiters operating on social media sites or offline, and are at risk of being exploited.
Further information is available on the NCA’s website and we recommend sharing this resource with school safeguarding leads, and with parents.
10. Information: opportunity for membership of the Department for Education’s Star Chamber scrutiny board
DfE are looking for individuals to join their data advisory board – the Star Chamber Scrutiny Board. This board primarily exists to ensure that data collection proposals are, necessary, good value and are as quick and easy to complete as possible with a secondary objective to offer strategic input on data related matters affecting children’s services. These are volunteer posts and applicants should have detailed knowledge / understanding of children’s services data sources.
Full details of the opportunities and application process are available from the DfE.
Deadline for applications is 13 January 2023.
11. Your feedback: launch of joint DfE and Ofqual Sector Subject Area Classification review: call for evidence
As part of the joint DfE and Ofqual review of the Sector Subject Area (SSA) classification system, we are publishing a call for evidence.
The SSA system is used to categorise qualifications, assign programme weightings, and analyse and monitor provision. We are seeking your views on how you use the system, what you use it for and the classification of subjects and sectors within it. We want to know more about what is working and whether you think there are improvements we can make so the system works better.
This call for evidence explains the system and invites views and evidence from interested parties on how we can make improvements.
You can access the call for evidence here.
The CFE will be open until Friday 3 February, if you have any queries or questions please contact SSAC.CallforEvidence@education.gov.uk.
12. Your feedback: have your day on the working lives of teachers and leaders – wave 2 survey launch
We are launching the second wave of Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders survey from January 2023.
The survey is crucial in helping us to understand the experiences and of teachers and school leaders, and this is an opportunity for you to share your views directly with the DfE. Findings from this second wave of the study will allow for important comparisons to the previous wave to help us understand if there have been any significant changes in teachers’ and leaders’ experiences.
The research is conducted by IFF Research and the Institute of Education (IoE), on behalf of DfE. It aims to collect robust evidence from teachers, middle leaders, and senior leaders in England about a range of topics about working life, from workload and wellbeing to career reflections and future ambitions.
Please look out for an invitation in the new year (invitations will be received by letter, email, or telephone from IFF Research).
The survey will remain open until Spring 2023. Participation is entirely voluntary.
For more information about the survey – including participant anonymity, data linking, GDPR and other FAQs – please visit the survey website or contact workinglives.teachers-leaders@education.gov.uk.