ESFA Update academies: 28 July 2021
Published 28 July 2021
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2021
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1. Latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Department for Education has published guidance about COVID-19 in educational settings for staff, parents and carers, pupils and students on GOV.UK.
Please check GOV.UK regularly for updates.
2. Reminder: last chance to access support to deliver T Levels in 2023 to 2024 academic year
Are you planning to deliver T Levels for the first time in 2023 to 2024 academic year?
Please register before 30 July 2021 to access support to help you prepare. This includes:
- support for implementation planning so that you are ready to deliver T Levels
- any support made available for the development of T Level Transition Programmes
- conversations with the T Level support team
- regular updates on the latest T Level news
- guidance on capital funding when this is available
- engagement in the development of the qualifications
- access to up-front funding for additional T Level delivery hours and industry placements
- access to networks of providers delivering T Levels and preparing to deliver T Levels
- access to the full range of T Level professional development resources and support
Providers not registered before this deadline will not receive this extra support to help them prepare to deliver T Levels for the first time in 2023 to 2024 academic year. Please see the registration guidance for more information.
3. Information: attempted fraudulent activity
A multi academy trust reported a fraudulent invoice they received. An email purporting to be from the headteacher of a school in the trust was sent in his name to the finance clerk at the school requesting an invoice be paid, the email sent included the correct logo of the school.
We ask trusts to continue to be vigilant to the risk of fraud. Information about reducing fraud can be found on GOV.UK.
4. Information: academy finance professionals ‘Power Hour’
Thank you to all who joined the “School Resource Management Advisors” Power Hour. If you were unable to attend the live event a recording of the event is available.
We value your feedback to help shape future events. Please take a minute to complete the feedback form.
We will be organising more Power Hours in the autumn term, further information on these will be sent over the coming weeks. If you have any questions or any suggestions for future events, then please contact us at: FD.FORUM@education.gov.uk.
5. Reminder: we need to know if early career teachers will be joining your schools in 2021
From September 2021, statutory induction is changing. The ‘NQT year’ will become a 2-year induction programme of high quality professional development and mentoring for early career teachers (ECTs).
These programmes are underpinned by the Early Career Framework (ECF). This sets out what all early career teachers should learn about, and learn how to do, during the first 2 years of their careers. Read the full guidance on GOV.UK.
We need to know if your schools expect early career teachers to join them in 2021. We can then provide guidance on how to choose and set up programmes.
5.1 How to tell us this important information
If your MAT is coordinating induction programmes centrally, email us to confirm which schools are expecting early career teachers to join them in 2021: continuing-professional-development@digital.education.gov.uk.
Or, you can ask schools to use our service if they’ll be managing their own programmes.
6. Information: Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy have launched a second phase of the Public Sector Low Carbon Skills Fund. Further details can be found on Salix’s website, and on GOV.UK.
The scheme will open for applications on Wednesday 28 July and will remain open until all funding has been allocated. There will also be a second application window for schools only, in September.
In total up to £15m is available in this financial year to enable organisations to secure the expert skills required to develop Heat Decarbonisation Plans.
Please do make your own contacts and networks aware. Salix will also be organising webinars, details of which are on their website.