Correspondence

DfE Update academies: 4 March 2026

Published 4 March 2026

Applies to England

1. Information: General annual grant allocation statements for 2026 to 2027

We have started to issue pre-16 allocation statements for academies open prior to February 2026 and expect to issue them all by the end of March 2026.

We will issue 2026 to 2027 allocations for February and March 2026 opening academies by the end of April 2026. 

In-year openers will receive their draft allocation in the month prior to opening and will receive their final allocation in the month after they open.

Once your allocation statement is available, you will receive an email and can find your digital statement online at Manage your education and skills funding (MYESF).

To receive the email notification and access your statement, you will need to have a DfE Sign-in account and add the MYESF service and the ‘view allocation statements’ sub-service to your account. If you have not already set this up, please see instructions on the How to access your general annual grant (GAG) section of the academies revenue funding page.

We have previously published the academies general annual grant allocation guides: 2026 to 2027 to help you understand your statement.

2. Information: Publication of the academies national non-domestic rates guidance updated for 2026 to 2027 academic year

We have published the updated academy national non-domestic rates (NNDR) claims guidance for the 2026 to 2027 financial year. 

This guidance provides details on how to claim for NNDR and to help you access and complete the NNDR claim form. 

The NNDR online claim form opens for 2026 to 2027 claim submissions on Wednesday 1 April 2026. Only academies whose billing authorities are not on the central system should use this form.

We have also published the updated NNDR accounting guidance, outlining how local authorities and academies should account for their NNDR in the 2026 to 2027 financial year.

If you have any questions about the NNDR process, you can contact us using the Customer Help Portal. 

3. Information: DfE bursaries for Institute of Leadership and Management Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management

We are launching an exciting pilot that offers fully funded bursaries for the Institute of Leaders and Management Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management.

This will support those who have recently joined the school business profession and those who want to develop their skills and gain a recognised qualification.

Places are limited and we will assess applications based on eligibility. As this is a pilot, we will ask successful participants for feedback during the course so we can refine future support for school business professionals.

If you are interested in completing the qualification, you should apply on or before Friday 13 March 2026 using the Level 4 Diploma in School Business Management – Bursary Application Form.

4. Information: Inclusion 2028 programme extended for 2026 to 2027

We are pleased to announce that the Inclusion 2028 programme has been extended for the 2026 to 2027 financial year. This grant supports schools to make PE, sport and physical activity more inclusive for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.

A national network of 53 lead inclusion schools can provide you with advice, guidance and training to help improve inclusive practice. You can also access free, bespoke resources through the inclusive education hub.

Find out more at Youth Sport Trust.

5. Information: Dedicated schools grant recoupment process

We have published details of the dedicated schools grant recoupment process for the 2026 to 2027 financial year.

6. Reminders: Manage your education estate digital service is now live

Responsible bodies, schools and colleges can now access our new digital service,  manage your education estate through DfE Sign-in.

Manage your education estate brings DfE estates guidance, data and tools together in one place for the first time. It is designed to support those responsible for school and college buildings (‘responsible bodies’) to manage their estate.

7. Feedback: Help shape DfE guidance and services for your school and trust

We are developing a new online service that brings trusted DfE tools, guidance and services together in one place. This aims to help schools and trusts save time and reduce administrative burden.  

To help us do this, we want to understand how you find and use DfE information, so that we can design a service that meets your needs. 

We are inviting school business managers, school business professionals, and school and trust leaders to fill out our short survey, which should take around 10 minutes to complete.

Your feedback matters whether you use DfE guidance and services often or rarely. 

We are keen to hear from you if your role involves funding, finance, compliance, Human Resources, procurement, or statutory returns.

8. Events and webinars: Academies Chart of Accounts mapping review workshop

Thursday 12 March 2026 at 11am to 12:30pm. Register on Eventbrite.  

9. Events and webinars: Financial Benchmarking & Insights Tool Overview

Friday 13 March 2026 at 3pm to 3:30pm. Register on EventBrite.

10. Events and webinars: School land transactions – selling or leasing school land

Tuesday 17 March 2026 at 2pm to 2:30pm. Register on Eventbrite.

11. Events and webinars: Financial management system comparison matrix

 Wednesday 18 March 2026 at 12pm to 12:45pm. Register on Eventbrite.