Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 14 June 2023

Published 14 June 2023

Applies to England

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1. Information: Academy Finance Professionals July Power Hour on counter fraud

Would you like to know more about how to combat fraud within academies?

Join the next Power Hour on Wednesday 5 July 3pm to 4pm.

This session will be led by ESFA’s Counter Fraud Team and will include:

  • the importance of combating fraud
  • ESFA’s fraud, bribery and corruption policy
  • ESFA’s counter fraud and corruption strategy
  • the Counter Fraud Team’s priorities and “pillars”: Prevent, Detect, Deter, Protect
  • how can the Counter Fraud Team offer support to academies to combat fraud?

There will be an opportunity to ask questions and the ESFA’s Counter Fraud Team will answer as many as possible during the event. The team will also supply their ESFA Counter Fraud email address for any further queries.

Register now to guarantee your place.

2. Information: Buying for Schools webinars – book your place now

Are you a school business professional who buys goods and services for your school?

We host regular webinars on how using our approved frameworks could help your school get value for money. Click on the links to find out more and book your place:

You can find the full programme of webinars for the summer term on the Summer 2023 webinar page. Visit the page to find out more and book your place.

3. Information: Join our Risk Protection Arrangement webinar – 22 June

This webinar will tell you everything you need to know about the DfE’s Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA), an alternative to commercial insurance which aims to protect schools against losses due to any unforeseen and unexpected events.

You will find out how to access the RPA, and it will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

Sign up here.

4. Information: book a 1:1 chat to discuss your school’s buying needs – spaces available 28 June

The Schools Commercial Team are offering the opportunity for a free, virtual 1:1 conversation with a member of the team to see how we can support you.

You can speak to us about anything you like to help you make informed buying choices for your school.

There is no pressure or obligation to take any of our recommendations forward following the conversation.

Book your 1:1 conversation now.

5. Information: MOVEit vulnerability

A recent vulnerability has been identified within the MOVEit application released by Progress Software. The vulnerability was discovered on the 31 May 2023, but it may have been exploited previous to this. We are currently aware of one UK company who has publicly stated they are affected Zellis. However, there may be more.

This is a significant vulnerability due to its remote unauthenticated exploitation vector, which allows a threat actor to install a web page only accessible to them and deploy a malware designed to capture credentials, including ones held for cloud services.

We urge all establishments to check to see if they are affected by this vulnerability as soon as possible. There is guidance available on the Progress Software website, and also from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

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