Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 22 February 2023

Published 22 February 2023

Applies to England

1. Action: submit your school resource management self-assessment checklist

This is a reminder that the school resource management self-assessment checklist is now open for academy trusts to complete and return by Tuesday 15 March 2023.

All academy trusts with an open academy on 31 December 2022 must submit a checklist.

2. Information: schools supplementary grant allocations for new and growing schools

Growing schools received their first schools supplementary grant (SSG) payment in spring 2022. This was based on estimated pupil number data supplied by the local authority.

We’ve published additional allocations for the schools supplementary grant (SSG) payments payable to ‘new and growing schools’ which takes into account actual pupil numbers reported on the October 2022 census. These allocations include a retrospective adjustment where necessary to bring the funding allocations into line with correct pupil number data.

These allocations also include a first payment to schools which opened in September 2022. Payments have been calculated using pupil number data from the October 2022 census, pro-rated for the proportion of the 2022 to 2023 financial year that the schools have been open for.

For academies that opened in September 2022, a further payment will be made in May 2023 to cover the period from April 2023 to August 2023, using data from the October 2022 census.

3. Information: allocation statements for 2023 to 2024

We have started to issue pre-16 and 16 to 19 allocation statements for academies and for school and academy sixth forms. We expect to issue them by the end of March 2023 except for academies opening between February and March 2023. You will receive your statement by the end of April 2023.

Once your allocation statement is available, you will receive a notification and can find it on Document Exchange in the ‘Documents received from ESFA’ section. Your allocation statement includes a breakdown of our calculation.

We have published the academy general annual grant allocation guidance and 16 to 19 allocation guidance to help you understand your statement.

4. Information: 16 to 19 tuition fund continues to be available in academic year 2023 to 2024

On 2 June 2021 we announced a further £222m to extend the 16 to 19 tuition fund for an additional 2 years from the 2022 to 2023 academic year. This means the tuition fund will continue to be available for eligible institutions in academic year 2023 to 2024.

We will publish guidance before Easter 2023 and confirm indicative allocations to eligible institutions by the start of June 2023.

5. 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 Schools Commercial Team (SCT) within the Department for Education is leading on the Buying for Schools programme; delivering services to support schools to buy goods and services.

The team are hosting free webinars on how using our approved frameworks could save you time and help your school get value for money. Click on the links to find out more and book your place:

• Get help buying for school service can help your school buying
• Hiring supply teachers and agency workers
• Risk Protection arrangements – an alternative to commercial insurance
• Financial support to cover you for staff sickness or absence

6. Information: book a 1:1 chat to discuss your school’s buying need

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 121 conversation now.