ESFA Update further education: 31 July 2024
Published 31 July 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-update-31-july-2024/esfa-update-further-education-31-july-2024
The next edition of ESFA Update will be issued on Wednesday 21 August 2024.
Information: Financial assurance – monitoring post-16 funding for 2024 to 2025 guidance
The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has published Financial assurance: monitoring post-16 funding for 2024 to 2025.
It contains 11 funding monitoring reports this academic year. We have refocussed our offer in line with ESFA’s overall risk appetite and assurance approach, in response to the new adult skills fund.
We have added one new report this year called ‘FRM72 – changes to Planned or Actual End Date after R14 of the previous funding year’. We have also removed 8 reports from last year.
We will share our findings through the post-16 monitoring dashboard on view your education data. The first dashboard will be available from December and published monthly, once the individualised learner record (ILR) submission window closes and we have quality assured the data.
Information: ILR funding returns guidance 2024 to 2025
ESFA has published Funding guidance for young people: ILR funding returns 2024 to 2025.
This is to support funded providers returning ILR data, to make accurate returns.
No funding reconciliation rules have been changed for the coming year, with some technical advice on returning final claims updated for this funding year.
Traineeship funding ceased after the 2023 to 2024 academic year. All continuing students were expected to complete their traineeships before Wednesday 31 July 2024.
Information: R10 in-year qualification achievement rates (QARs) 2023 to 2024
On Tuesday 4 June and Wednesday 3 July respectively, the Department for Education (DfE) released the 2023 to 2024 qualification achievement rates (QARs) business rules and technical specifications.
Following the release of these documents, we have now released your first in-year qualification achievement rate (QAR) data for 2023 to 2024.
In-year QARs can be accessed through view your education data, which provides:
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a QAR dashboard that uses your ILR data from the R10 return to show your rates
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a QAR data download to show your learner level information
Please note that traineeships no longer appear in a separate dashboard. Traineeships have been included in the wider education and training data.
If you have any queries in relation to QARs, please contact us using the customer help portal and selecting the QAR query type. Further advice and support can also be found under the help centre articles and communities section for peer support.
Information: Technical qualifications reform update
On Wednesday 24 July, DfE announced that they are undertaking a focused review of qualifications reform at level 3 and below, alongside the re-contracting of T Level qualifications. The review will conclude by the end of the year.
DfE will place a pause on the removal of 16 to 19 funding from qualifications assessed as overlapping with T Levels, due to take place on Wednesday 31 July 2024. This will mean that, subject to any commercial decisions made by awarding organisations on these qualifications, they can be funded for 16- to 19- year-old new students in the 2024 to 2025 academic year.
T Levels are high-quality qualifications which provide young people with a firm foundation for their future. DfE will roll out new T Levels in September 2024 and 2025 to ensure that young people continue to benefit from these respected qualifications.
You can read further qualifications reform updates on GOV.UK.
Reminder: Financial handbook for independent training providers
This is a reminder that the Financial handbook for independent training providers (ITPs) comes into effect from tomorrow, Thursday 1 August 2024. The handbook applies to ITPs in receipt of funds provided directly by DfE or ESFA, for the duration of providers’ contracts of service with DfE or ESFA.
The handbook contains 3 main sections – governance, financial management and oversight, and assurance. Key areas include submission of annual accounts, external audit, internal controls, risk management, and funding compliance and scrutiny.
David Withey, ESFA’s Chief Executive, wrote to independent training providers in February 2024 to explain why this handbook has been created and how it should be used.
You can also watch a webinar introducing the Financial handbook for independent training providers.
webinar introducing the Financial handbook for independent training providers
The handbook was published on Wednesday 28 February 2024 to give ITPs the opportunity to familiarise themselves with its contents and adapt their procedures as appropriate before Thursday 1 August.
ITPs can provide feedback and submit enquiries about the handbook using our customer help portal service.
Reminder: College financial handbook
This is a reminder that the College financial handbook comes into effect from tomorrow, Thursday 1 August 2024. The handbook applies to further education and sixth form college corporations, and designated institutions with an accountability agreement with the Secretary of State for Education.
The handbook includes requirements and recommendations focusing on key roles and responsibilities, financial controls, audit and accounting, delegated authorities, and regulation and oversight.
David Withey, ESFA’s Chief Executive, wrote to accounting officers in March 2024 to explain why this handbook has been created and how it should be used.
You can also watch a webinar introducing the College financial handbook.
webinar introducing the College financial handbook.
The handbook was published on Wednesday 20 March 2024 to give Colleges and designated institutions opportunity to familiarise themselves with the contents of the handbook and adapt their procedures as appropriate before Thursday 1 August.
Colleges and designated institutions can provide feedback and submit enquiries about the handbook using our customer help portal service.