Correspondence

ESFA Update academies: 23 August 2023

Published 23 August 2023

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2023

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-23-august-2023/esfa-update-academies-23-august-2023

A reminder that from 1 September 2023:

  • the approval threshold for RPTs increases to £40,000 per transaction – the cumulative total for multiple transactions with the same supplier is removed
  • transactions between a trust and their religious authority for religious services continue to not require ESFA approval but must be declared using the online form
  • RPTs with schools/colleges/universities that are the trust sponsor, or with state-funded schools/colleges, no longer require ESFA approval, but must be declared using the online form
  • RPTs over £40,000 with private schools/colleges/universities that are not the trust sponsor, will still require ESFA approval

The Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) requires that RPTs be declared in advance of the contract starting and submitted through the online form:

  • transactions starting before the end of August 2023 can be submitted until 31 August 2024 and ATH 2022 requirements will apply

  • ATH 2023 requirements will apply to transactions starting on or after 1 September 2023

Watch the ESFA’s RPT Power Hour for more details.

RPT Power Hour

2. Information: national funding formula 2024 to 2025: COLLECT tables

The “COLLECT” tables for 2024 to 2025 are now available for schools and local authorities to access. This follows the publication of the 2024 to 2025 national funding formula for schools and high needs and the pre-16 local authority guidance in July.

The tables allow schools and local authorities to see the detail of how their NFF notional allocations for 2024 to 2025 have been calculated.

Schools and local authorities can access the tables by signing in to DfE sign-in and selecting “COLLECT”. If you are unable to see your COLLECT reports, please consult national funding formula notional allocations: supplementary guidance.

If you have questions about the numbers shown, please contact the ESFA enquiry service through the online form.

3. Your feedback: taking part in user research to improve join up of DfE services and information

We are working to bring together services and information from DfE into one easy-to-navigate place.

3.1 How you can help

We are keen to continue to engage you in this programme of work as it progresses and are beginning with some small improvements that will grow and expand over time. Our first release is focusing on bringing together mandatory tasks in relation to finance and funding.

At this stage, we are keen to speak to school business professionals and school leaders from pre-16 academies who are responsible for funding in their school. We want to represent everyone in our research, to ensure the service is accessible and usable for all, so if you have an access need we’re keen to speak to you too.

If you fit these criteria and are available to take part in a short online user research session (no longer than one hour) between 24 August and mid-September, please contact School-Account.COMMS@education.gov.uk providing your name, role, and typical time slots when you may be available (your personal data will be kept confidential at all times). We will be able to offer a small compensation.

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