ESFA Update further education: 5 October 2022
Published 5 October 2022
Applies to England
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1. Action: check your in-year qualification achievement rate (QAR) data
The final (R14) ILR collection closes at 6pm on Thursday 20 October, after which you will not be able to make any amendments to your data. This is the last chance to check your in-year QAR data and address any data issues before submitting your final ILR data return.
The accuracy of this data is vital as provider QARs are used for performance management. Your 2021 to 2022 QARs will also be published in National Achievement Rate Tables in 2023.
In-year QARs can be accessed through View your education data, which provides:
- a QAR dashboard that uses your ILR data from the R12 return to show your rates
- a QAR data download to show your learner level information
The 2021 to 2022 in-year data release guidance provides help on accessing the data, as well as a summary of common data issues to look for.
If you have any queries in relation to your QAR, please contact us via our online enquiry form, selecting the QAR query type.
2. Reminder: the coronavirus (COVID19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 form is now live
The coronavirus (COVID19) 16 to 19 tuition fund 2022 to 2023 opt in/out digital form is now live.
The deadline for your submission is 11:59pm on 21 October 2022.
We’ve published guidance to access and help you complete the form.
You can read more about the fund on GOV.UK.
3. Reminder: the FE workforce data collection is now open
The 2021 to 2022 mandatory FE workforce data collections opened on 12 September. The online form for staff data is now available for providers.
To access the staff, vacancy and governor collections, use the Submit learner data sign in process.
If your require an account, please read our registration guidance.
We will be publishing outcomes in Spring 2023, for the benefit of providers and key stakeholders, such as Ofsted and sector representatives.
We have also released new updated guidance documents for the collections to support staff who are completing the collections.
4. Reminder: Department for Education (DfE) consultation on FE funding and accountability closing date extended
Since July, the DfE have been consulting on proposals for a reformed FE funding and accountability system. This was due to close on 21 September 2022, but after taking into account feedback from some stakeholders we have decided to extend the closing date to 12 October 2022.
If you are interested in understanding our proposals in more detail please see the consultation, ‘Implementing a new FE Funding and Accountability system’ here, where you can also find the link to respond.
We welcome your responses and thank you in advance for taking the time to give us your views.
5. Information: convert to an academy guidance for sixth-form colleges
We have published an updated version of the guidance for sixth-form colleges considering becoming a 16 to 19 academy and the accompanying application form.
This autumn 2022 update:
- references that provision is being made to enable sixth-form colleges with a religious character to convert to academy status to become 16 to 19 academies, whilst being able to continue to retain their religious designation after conversion
- reflects the latest vision for the academies sector
- improves the clarity of the guidance in response to stakeholder feedback
- updates terminology and procedural descriptions to ensure accuracy, including updated links to HMRC VAT guidance and post-Brexit arrangements
A further update to this guidance will be published, once the regulations to enable sixth-form colleges with a religious character to convert to academy status have come into force.
6. Information: recent fraudulent attempts against education providers
We have been made aware of an attempt by a fraudster to request the bank details of an education provider. In this case, the fraudster had created a very similar email address to the correct email address of the supplier, as well as using correct contact names.
Please report allegations of suspected fraud or financial irregularity to us.
We have published a guide on cybercrime and cyber security to help raise education providers’ awareness.
Further guidance on reducing fraud risks is also available (this was produced for academies, but maybe helpful to all organisations).
7. Information: provider data self-assessment toolkit (PDSAT) online
For the 2022 to 2023 funding year, we will be releasing an online version of PDSAT. We expect this to be available in November 2022, aiming for the R04 ILR return.
The online version will enable users to analyse learner and learning delivery data relating to the 2022 to 2023 funding year.
PDSAT online will contain new and existing features and functionality.
Over the coming weeks we will publish regular updates with further information.
The existing desktop version will continue to be available on GOV.UK for download and use with ILR data for funding years prior to 2022 to 2023.