Correspondence

DfE Update academies: 21 January 2026

Published 21 January 2026

Applies to England

1. Action: Submit your schools resource management self-assessment checklist

The schools resource management self-assessment checklist is now open for academy trusts to complete and return by Friday 13 March 2026.

All academy trusts with an open academy on 31 December 2025 must submit a checklist.

2. Action: Academies national non-domestic rates (NNDR) claims for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to be submitted by Monday 2 February 2026

This message is for academies opted out of the central national non-domestic rates (NNDR) payment process. You can check the 2025 to 2026 NNDR process for your academy.

Academies that are opted out and remain under the old NNDR arrangements because their billing authority decided not to implement the central payment process, should submit claims for the 2025 to 2026 financial year on or before Monday 2 February 2026.   

Claims can be submitted on the academies NNDR service.  

Any 2025 to 2026 financial year claims submitted after the Monday 2 February 2026 deadline will be paid in the following claim year from June 2026.

To note: academies under billing authorities that have opted into the central payment process will no longer have access to the NNDR academy portal. The responsibility for submitting claims and historical adjustments on behalf of the school will fall to the billing authority.

3. Information: National non-domestic rates (NNDR) payment process for academies from Wednesday 1 April 2026

We have published a spreadsheet showing your NNDR payment process for 2026 to 2027 which confirms the process your billing authority will be implementing from April 2026.

If your billing authority is implementing the central NNDR payment process and DfE ordinarily funds your rates, you:

• should not pay your business rates bill to the billing authority as we will do this on your behalf
• will continue to receive a rates bill from the billing authority, for information only

If your billing authority is remaining on the old NNDR arrangements and DfE ordinarily funds your rates, you:

• must claim your payment from us (as in previous years) using the existing academies NNDR portal
• must contact the billing authority directly for any adjustment queries related to your rates bill
• should pay your business rates bill directly to the billing authority as previous year’s arrangement or as instructed on your rates bill for April 2026 to March 2027

Contact the Customer Help Portal with any NNDR related enquiries.

4. Reminder: Academies accounts return deadline Wednesday 28 January 2026

Thank you to all trusts that have submitted their accounts return. If you have not yet done so, submit by Wednesday 28 January 2026.

Make sure you complete the external auditor details section and grant your auditors access. Only external auditors can submit the form.

If you need help, read our guidance or join a Teams call. You can find the full schedule on Eventbrite.

5. Webinar: Academies chart of accounts and automation Question and Answer drop-in session

Thursday 22 January 2026, at 1:30pm to 2pm. Register on Eventbrite.

6. Webinars: Inclusion live week: making PE and sport accessible for all

Inclusion Live is a week of interactive free-to-access virtual webinars, running from 26 to 30 January 2026.

We are funding this Inclusion 2028 event, hosted by the Youth Sport Trust, to equip teachers, school staff, community providers, and sports organisations with practical strategies in how to create inclusive environments for young people with SEND in physical education, school sport, and physical activity.

View the full schedule and register your interest.

7. Webinar: DfE Energy for schools webinar

Monday 2 February 2026 at 10am to 10.30am.  Register online.

8. Webinar: Risk protection arrangement members only – Mock trial

Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 9am to midday. Register online.