ESFA Update academies: 31 August 2022
Published 31 August 2022
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-31-august-2022/esfa-update-academies-31-august-2022
1. Reminder: you have two weeks to complete the school-led tutoring year-end statement
The deadline for your submission is 6:00pm on Friday, 16 September 2022.
This is a mandatory return. You need to complete this form if your institution has received school-led tutoring funding in the 2021 to 2022 academic year, even if you have not used it.
Failure to submit this form will result in your full school-led tutoring programme funding allocation being recovered by ESFA.
If your institution has chosen not to use the school-led-tutoring grant, completion of the year-end statement is still mandatory, but it will be a shortened two-step process.
The deadline to deliver any school-led tuition in your school for this academic year is Wednesday, 31 August 2022.
We have published technical and policy guidance (which includes FAQs and scenarios) and a tutorial video to help you complete the form.
An optional tracker and calculator tool is available to help institutions complete the year-end statement, even if they have not been using it all year.
If you require support in completing the year-end statement, please contact the ESFA help centre.
You can read more on the school-led tutoring grant on GOV.UK.
2. Reminder: important reminder for all RPA Members - have you met the conditions for RPA cyber cover?
To make sure your school is covered for Cyber Incidents we want to remind all RPA members that the following four conditions must be met:
- Must have offline backups
- All employees or Governors who have access to the Member’s information technology system must undertake NCSC Cyber Security Training
- Must register with Police CyberAlarm
- Must have a Cyber Response Plan in place
For more information, see the Cyber Guidance note.
Full terms and conditions of the cyber cover can be found in the Membership Rules.
If you have any questions or would like more information, contact: RPA.DFE@education.gov.uk.
3. Information: automated draft trust financial statements available to download from 1 September 2022
Trusts who are using automation will be able to download their draft trust financial statements from 1st September 2022, via the Accounts Return page .The Accounts Return will then go live in October.
This report is currently available to test via the excel workbook, and feedback would be welcome.
Guidance can be found on the academies chart of accounts and automating the accounts return webpage.
Please send any feedback you may have to api.finance@education.gov.uk.
4. Information: RPA members - practical audit process workshop
As part of our risk management support, the Department for Education (in conjunction with Willis Towers Watson who provide who provide risk management services to all RPA members) are hosting a webinar that includes:
- risk assessment
- stress
- security
- employment law
Please select the best date for you to read more information and register:
For the latest on our wide range of webinars, check out the events tab on our Buying for schools LinkedIn page.
5. Information: get advice on addressing and responding to harmful sexual behaviour
The Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service can be contacted by any safeguarding professional in England who may encounter developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour among the children and young people they work with, and want help and support with how to respond to individual incidents or to discuss wider policy questions.
The Support service can be contacted Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm on 0344 225 0623, or hsbsupport@swgfl.org.uk.
Find out more on the Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service website.
The service has been in operation since January 2022, and run by South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) and the Marie Collins Foundation, funded by the UK Government Home Office.
The Support Service is coming to a close on 28 October 2022. We encourage professionals to continue to engage with the service to receive support until this time. Further resources will continue to be available after the end of the Support Service.