ESFA Update academies: 19 December 2019
Published 19 December 2018
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2018
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1. Action: review of end of year 16 to 19 study programmes data for 2016 to 2017
We have published the findings of the annual review of end-year 16 to 19 study programmes data for the 2016 to 2017 academic year, which includes actions for providers.
This is the fourth annual review we have completed with the purpose of ensuring that public funding supports the core principles of study programmes.
2. Reminder: financial statements deadline
The deadline to submit your trust’s financial statements is Monday 31 December 2018. We have published guidance to help with your submission.
It is a mandatory requirement within your funding agreement to submit your financial statements to ESFA before the deadline.
Please also note, the deadline for your external auditors to submit your trust’s accounts return is Monday 21 January 2019. We have published guidance to help with your submission.
If you have any questions, please use the ESFA enquiry form. Please put either “financial statements” or “accounts return” at the top of your enquiry and provide your trust’s company number.
ESFA will publish the names of academy trusts who are late, or do not submit, two or more financial returns in each academic year. We strongly advise all users to allow sufficient time for all checks to be completed and signed off before any deadlines.
3. Information: Education Secretary Damian Hinds announces schools funding arrangements
3.1 Dedicated schools grant (DSG) funding for 2019 to 2020
The DSG allocations for local authorities for the 2019 to 2020 financial year have been announced.
The DSG will continue to have 4 blocks:
- the schools block is allocated on the basis of the schools block units of funding and actual costs for premises, growth and mobility announced in July 2018
- the central school services block is allocated on the per-pupil rates and historic commitments announced in July 2018
- the high needs block is based on the national funding formula announced in July 2018, with an additional £125 million allocated on the basis of the ONS projections for the 2 to 18 year old population in each local authority
- the early years block is allocated using the funding rates and calculations announced in November 2018
Education services grant (ESG) protections will continue in 2019 to 2020 at their current rates, to protect academies from excessive changes in funding as a result of the ending of the ESG.
We have published the DSG conditions of grant and supporting documents.
You can also read the:
3.2 Additional high needs funding for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020
An additional £250 million of funding for high needs, across the 2 financial years 2018 to 2019, and 2019 to 2020, has been announced.
We have increased the high needs block of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) by:
- £125 million for 2018 to 2019
- £125 million for 2019 to 2020
We have allocated the additional funding on the basis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) projections for the 2 to 18 year old population in each local authority.
We have updated the published high needs allocations tables to include this additional funding.
You can also read the full written ministerial statement.
3.3 Schools funding for 2019 to 2020
The following arrangements for school funding in 2019 to 2020 have been announced:
Teachers pay grant
Teachers pay grant will continue in academic year 2019 to 2020.
Pupil premium
Pupil premium will continue at the current per-pupil rates for the 2019 to 2020 financial year.
You can read the published pupil premium conditions of grant.
Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM)
The grant for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) continues at a meal rate of £2.30 for the 2019 to 2020 academic year.
Further details will be available in 2019.
Year 7 catch-up premium
The year 7 catch-up premium continues in financial year 2019 to 2020.
Further details will be available in 2019.
Free school meals supplementary grant
The free school meals supplementary grant will continue in 2019 to 2020.
Key stage 2 moderation and key stage 1 phonics
The grant for key stage 2 moderation and key stage 1 phonics will continue in financial year 2019 to 2020, and will be paid in August 2019.
Education services grant (ESG) protection
Education services grant (ESG) protection for academies will continue in the 2019 to 2020 academic year.
4. Information: schools block funding allocations for 2018 to 2019
We have published the schools block allocations for 2018 to 2019 for maintained schools (financial year) and academies (academic year).
We have published this in relation to the schools block funding formulae 2018 to 2019.
5. Information: 2018 to 2019 additional capital funding ready reckoner
At Budget, the Chancellor announced an extra £400 million capital funding for schools in 2018 to 2019. This is in addition to the £1.4 billion already allocated this year to those responsible for school buildings.
We have published a ready reckoner to help schools and other eligible institutions estimate the allocation they can expect to receive and so plan how to spend the money.