Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 20 March 2019

Published 20 March 2019

This correspondence was withdrawn on 21 December 2020

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. Find the latest information from ESFA in the latest ESFA Update.

Applies to England

1. Action: government consultation – review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England

On 19 March, the government launched the consultation on the review of post-16 qualifications at level 3 and below in England.

We are consulting in two stages and the first stage of the consultation focuses on the principles, scope and the broad process the review will follow.

The government is consulting on:

• only providing public funding for qualifications that meet key criteria on quality, purpose, necessity and progression
• not providing public funding for qualifications for 16 to 19 year olds that overlap with T Levels or A levels
• in August 2020, withdrawing approval for funding for older versions of qualifications at level 3, where there are newer versions that have been re-developed to meet performance tables rules
• in August 2021, withdrawing approval for funding for qualifications with no or low publicly funded enrolments

The consultation will close on Monday 10 June 2019. Please send any queries via email to Post16Level3andBelowReview.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk.

2. Action: applications to change the use of school playing field land

The Department for Education (DfE) is currently in the process of updating its guidance on disposing or changing the use of playing fields and school land. This update will reflect the latest policy position and provide information on a new application portal, ending the current multiple application form process.

In the interim period, DfE now requires applicants to provide further details about their proposal. This will allow DfE to consider existing and future change of use applications in a way consistent with current policy.

The change of use application form (SATPF2) has been updated to provide clearer guidance and information required for future applications.

Existing applicants do not need to reapply. Case officers will make contact with applicants to discuss the further detail required to progress applications.

3. Reminder: letter from Eileen Milner to academy trusts

ESFA chief executive, Eileen Milner, has written a letter to academy trusts. The letter outlines arrangements for academy trust financial returns until the end of 2019.

We have also published information about our academies better financial reporting programme. This seeks to improve the existing end-to-end process for financial reporting by academy trusts.

4. Reminder: ESFA independent appeal panel complaints

We would like to remind academies that they must instruct clerks that run their admission appeals to include a link to the academy independent admission appeal complaints factsheet in the panel’s decision letter.

Please follow the statutory requirements in both the school admission appeals code and the school admissions code when organising admission appeals.

To limit the number of complaints made about independent appeal panels, and to ensure any complaints are dealt with as effectively as possible, we remind academies and clerks that:

• the panel must decide if the academy’s admission arrangements complied with the requirements set out in the school admissions code and Part 3 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998
• the panel must then decide whether the academy’s admission arrangements were correctly and impartially applied to the case in question

To ensure complaints about the panel can be administered quickly and efficiently, academies are required to ensure their clerks keep an accurate and legible record of the appeal proceedings, including how the panel reached their decision.

5. Information: revenue funding allocation statements for 2019 to 2020

At the end of the week, we will start to upload revenue funding allocation statements for non-maintained special schools and special post-16 institutions to ESFA Information Exchange. We expect most statements to be available by the end of March.

Your allocation includes a breakdown of our calculation and we have published a short video and guidance to help you understand your allocation statement. You can find your file in the ESFA Information Exchange in the Document Exchange ‘Revenue Funding’ folder, under ‘AY 2019-20 (2019/20)’.

If you need to submit a business case, the deadline is Tuesday 30 April 2019. We will apply minimum thresholds to decide whether we will consider your case. Please review the thresholds published in the supporting information before submitting your business case.

Please contact us using our online enquiry form if you have any questions.

6. Information: updated dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations and allocated high needs places for 2018 to 2019

We have updated the published dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations for the 2018 to 2019 financial year. This update reflects in-year recoupment and high needs deductions.

We have also updated the published allocated high needs place numbers for the 2018 to 2019 academic year.

7. Information: teacher workload reduction toolkit updates

DfE has updated the teacher workload reduction toolkit in response to recommendations in the making data work report and comments and feedback from teachers across the country.

Updates include:

• a new section on reducing workload when managing behaviour including a workshop, a one page handout and an example from Redbridge Community School
• a new section to support governing boards and trustees to reduce workload including an example from Ongar Primary School
• new practice examples including, for example, a video on developing a supportive culture in which to reduce workload from a primary school in East London in the managing change section
• revised advice for leaders on ways to reduce workload in your school(s) including a new section on behaviour management

If you have any comments or questions about the toolkit, please contact DfE’s Teacher Workload and Impact on Schools Team via email workload.solutions@education.gov.uk.