ESFA Update academies: 24 October 2018
Published 24 October 2018
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2018
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1. Action: academy trust audited financial statements 2017 to 2018 submission arrangements
We have published our guide to submitting your audited financial statements for 2017 to 2018. You should read the guide before completing the online form and uploading your documents.
This year, we have reduced the data collected in the coversheet to eliminate duplication with other returns. You must upload your audited financial statements and auditor’s management letter within the accounts submission coversheet. You no longer need to access ESFA’s Document Exchange to submit these documents.
We have added some questions to help us understand trusts’ approach to internal control, internal scrutiny and curriculum financial planning. This aims to inform how we work with you to improve what we offer and to what extent trusts use the current tools, products and commercial deals.
All academy trusts that had a signed funding agreement and had an open academy at any point during the accounting period to 31 August 2018 must submit audited accounts (annual report, financial statements and auditor’s management letter) to ESFA. This includes free schools, studio schools and university technical colleges (UTCs).
The deadline for submitting audited accounts is 31 December 2018.
2. Action: land and buildings collection tool (LBCT)
The deadline for LBCT submissions is 5 November 2018. You can find more information about making a submission in our LBCT guidance. Thank you to all those trusts who have already completed their return.
If you have any church owned land, you must enter a diocesan user email in the form when prompted. This user should confirm the details of any church owned land entered in your submission. If you are unsure about which email address to add, please contact your local diocese or church trustees to find out.
We are holding a series of Skype calls and webchats to answer any queries users may have. The next event will be via webchat on 26 October 2018, followed by daily Skype calls and webchats from 29 October until 5 November 2018. You can find out details of upcoming sessions by viewing the full timetable and joining instructions. You can also watch the LBCT webinar we held on 10 October.
LBCT webinar we held on 10 October.
If you are having any difficulties completing your return, please let us know as soon as possible via the enquiry form, quoting ‘LBCT’ and the trust UPIN at the top of the form.
3. Action: Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) 2019 to 2020
The Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) for 2019 to 2020 is now open for applications.
We have published updated guidance about the application process and timeline.
CIF is an annual bidding round for eligible academies and sixth-form colleges to apply for capital funding. We allocate most CIF funding to address significant condition need. A small proportion goes to high performing academies and sixth-form colleges to address overcrowding or create extra places.
If you are applying to CIF for the first time, you must register to use the portal by 5pm on Friday 30 November 2018.
The deadline to submit your application for CIF 2019 to 2020 is midday on Thursday 13 December 2018.
4. Information: teachers’ pay grant allocations 2018 to 2019
On 14 September, we published the rates and high level methodology for the teachers’ pay grant for 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020.
Today, we have published the teachers’ pay grant allocations for 2018 to 2019 which cover the period September 2018 to March 2019.
5. Information: 16 to 19 revenue funding allocations for 2018 to 2019
This week we published the 16 to 19 revenue funding allocations for academic year 2018 to 2019.
The publication covers schools, academies and further education institutions funded by ESFA for 16 to 19 year olds and 19 to 25 year olds with an education, health and care (EHC) plan.
We have published the data sets in the interests of transparency. They also give a more complete picture of education funding by showing how ESFA has allocated £5.7 billion for this cohort.
6. Information: understanding your data – a guide for schools, governors and academy trustees
We have updated understanding your data: a guide for school governors and academy trustees with links to new and updated tools that help schools reduce costs pressures and make every pound count.
Developed with the aid of non-executive directors who serve on boards and local authorities, the guide aims to support governors and trustees to challenge the executive teams in their school or academy.
If you would like to provide feedback on this resource or have suggestions about how it could be improved, please contact us using our enquiry form. Please put “Understanding your data” at the top of your enquiry.
7. Information: EpiPen and EpiPen Junior shortage updated advice
Following last week’s guidance on the EpiPen shortages, you should note the guidance in a letter from NHS allergy experts, which GPs are issuing to those affected and includes updated advice.