Guidance

Academies budget forecast return: guide to using the online form

Guide to help academies complete the budget forecast return

From:
Education and Skills Funding Agency
Published
9 March 2020
Last updated
3 April 2024 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Academies budget forecast guidance for completing the online form

HTML

BFR lines quick reference guide

PDF, 740 KB, 35 pages

BFR ICT guidance

HTML

Re-brokerage of academies

HTML

Details

The BFR 2024 form guidance has been updated to detail the new data fields required in the upcoming collection. We will publish more details early 2024 which fully breaks down the reporting requirements.

Guidance

We have published the guide for the academies budget forecast financial return - BFR. This guide is to be used to help all users complete the financial return. For more details please see the main budget forecast overview page - this includes the excel workbook to help you prepare for your return.

Questions

If you have any questions about academies budget forecast returns, please contact us using our online enquiry form below. Please put ‘academies budget forecast returns’ at the top of your enquiry so we can quickly direct your question to the team.

ESFA enquiries

For all enquiries for the Education and Skills Funding Agency

Published 9 March 2020
Last updated 3 April 2024 + show all updates

  1. BFR go live and deadline dates added DfE Sign In (DSI) has replaced IDAMs so trust users must have a DSI account to access BFR ICT Spend actual and forecast figures requirements has been added to the guidance Buildings repairs and maintenance line (379) is a new addition to separate out what trusts spend on buildings repairs and maintenance and the percentage funded through capital grants (DFC, CIF, SCA) Line 399 removed Pay award rates and assumptions for staff and support staff has been added to the three year forecast section to help the department understand trusts intentions/plans RAAC funding and expenditure guidance has been provided to inform trusts where to report these on the BFR Scenarios added in for lines to complete if a new or existing academy joins or leaves a trust Quick reference guide added for BFR lines

  2. We have updated the BFR guidance to include details for the new data required for the BFR 2024. This covers extra details for ICT spend and for building maintenance and improvements.

  3. The academies budget forecast return (BFR) deadline of 31 August 2023 has passed. Thank you for all the academy trusts who submitted by the deadline, if your academy trust has not yet submitted your BFR use the link on the webpage to complete your BFR as soon as possible.

  4. We have updated the dates in section 2.11, 'Re-brokerage of academies'. We have also added additional information in section 4.4, 'Surplus transfers on conversions'.

  5. The BFR form is now live. The deadline for completion is 31 August 2023.

  6. We've added details about the BFR deadline for this year, 31 August 2023, including updated guidance and supporting information.

  7. The academies budget forecast return deadline has now passed, please submit your returns as soon as possible if you haven't already done so.

  8. Updated to clarify the process of how to report the NNDR rates reclaim in the BFR form

  9. Updated BFR line 101 to make reference to the NNDR rates consultation outcome to pay rates directly to local authorities rather than to academy trusts.

  10. The weekend service update was successful and the budget forecast form is accessible again from the dashboard.

  11. The online form for the academies budget forecast is now live. The deadline for academy trusts to complete and submit their return is 26 July 2022.

  12. We have updated the BFR form guidance with information about arrangements for academy trusts with revenue reserves of 20% or more.

  13. The BFR deadline has now passed.

  14. The academies budget forecast return is now open, please complete your return by the deadline, 27 July 2021.

  15. We have updated the guide to the budget forecast return online form ahead of the form go-live by 22 June 2021. The deadline for academy trusts to submit their budget forecast return is 27 July 2021.

  16. The BFR3Y deadline has passed - if your academy trust has not yet submitted your return please do so as soon as possible.

  17. The BFR3Y is now live, please see this webpage for details about the form and the login link.

  18. We have published the BFR3Y online form guidance - the form will be available from the 8 July and has a submission deadline of 29 September 2020.

  19. First published.

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