ESFA Update academies: 26 March 2025
Published 26 March 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-26-march-2025/esfa-update-academies-26-march-2025
Information: Transfer of Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) functions to the Department for Education (DfE)
ESFA will close on Monday 31 March 2025.
A letter from David Withey, Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of ESFA, to accounting officers has more information.
ESFA Update will be called DfE Update and will still be sent on a Wednesday.
For help with DfE enquiries, complaints and general questions visit the customer help portal.
Information: Pupil premium conditions of grant and technical note for the 2025 to 2026 financial year
We have published the pupil premium conditions of grant and technical note for financial year 2025 to 2026.
Unlike in previous years, when there were separate conditions of grant for local authority maintained schools, academies and free schools and non-maintained special schools, this year there is one conditions of grant document to cover all establishment types.
We will publish indicative allocations for 2025 to 2026 shortly.
Updated allocations will be published in June 2025, September 2025, December 2025 and March 2026.
Information: 16 to 19 funding rates and formula 2025 to 2026
We have published the funding rates and formula guidance for 2025 to 2026.
We have updated the funding rates and made some minor updates and additions. You can view the details of all changes in the ‘What’s new?’ section of the guidance.
Information: Academy national non-domestic rates claims guidance updated for 2025 to 2026
We have published the updated academy national non-domestic rates (NNDR) claims guidance for 2025 to 2026.
This guidance provides details on how to claim for NNDR and to help you access and complete the NNDR claim form.
To note, the academy NNDR claim form will open on Tuesday 1 April 2025.
If you have any questions about the NNDR process, you can contact us via the customer help portal.
Information: Academies Accounts Direction for 2024 to 2025
We have published the Academies Accounts Direction 2024 to 2025.
The primary users of this direction will be those involved in the preparation of the annual report and financial statements. It is also relevant to accounting officers, external auditors, and reporting accountants of academy trusts. Trustees will also find the direction helpful in ensuring they fulfil their financial reporting responsibilities.
Compliance with the direction, including the separate model accounts document, is a condition of an academy trust’s funding agreement.
We have also published an updated auditor framework and guide for external auditors and reporting accountants of academy trusts.
Information: Good practice guidance for colleges and academy trusts on novel, contentious and repercussive transactions
DfE has published a good practice guide in relation to novel, contentious and repercussive transactions for colleges and academy trusts. The guide supplements the requirements for such transactions set out in the academy trust handbook and the college financial handbook by setting out a number of constructed illustrative examples to allow college and academy leaders to better understand the issues involved.
Information: Related Party Transactions (RPTs) online form portal downtime
Academy trusts must report to DfE their intention to enter into a new transaction with a related party, before confirming that transaction with the related party, using the Related Party Transactions online form portal.
A platform migration of the portal is scheduled from 28 March 2025 at 1pm to 31 March 2025 at midday. During this period, academy trusts will not be able to access the portal to report or submit information relating to RPTs.
To be assured, the downtime will be kept to a minimum to limit the impact to academy trust users.
If you have any further queries, we recommend you do keep referring to the banner on the portal’s GOV.UK landing page, or you can contact us via the customer help portal.
Webinar: Risk protection arrangement members only – stress workshop
Thursday 3 April 2025, 10:00am to midday. Register Online.