DfE Update academies: 7 May 2025
Published 7 May 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfe-update-7-may-2025/dfe-update-academies-7-may-2025
1. Information: Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (FBIT) replaces the Schools Financial Benchmarking website
In autumn 2024, the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (FBIT) was released and became the principal place for schools to examine their financial data and benchmark their spending.
Thanks to the guidance and support of the hundreds of you who have taken part in user testing or fed back your views in other ways, we feel confident that the new tool combines the best elements of the 2 it replaces: ‘View My Financial Insights’ and the ‘Schools Financial Benchmarking’ website.
View My Financial Insights has already been switched off and Schools Financial Benchmarking website will be switched off in the coming weeks.
2. Information: 16 to 19 subcontracting
We have published the 16 to 19 subcontracting data for academic year 2023 to 2024.
This publication includes subcontracting data for further education (FE) institutions, schools and academies funded by the Department for Education (DfE).
It is based on the R14 individualised learner record (ILR) return produced by FE institutions, and the autumn census return for schools and academies.
3. Information: Learning aim reference service: category codes
We have updated the learning aim reference service (LARS): category codes guidance.
The most notable update is the discontinuation of category codes 6 to 14, effective from Friday 1 August 2025.
4. Information: Provision recognised as higher education for Office for Students regulatory purposes
We have published a new guidance document for higher education learning aim requests.
This can be found on the Learning aim reference (LARS) webpage and is titled ‘Provision recognised as higher education for Office for Students regulatory purposes’.
The document includes some important changes:
- HECoS codes replacing LDCS codes
- validation letters are no longer required
- comprehensive list of learning aim types (including 3 new codes)
5. Information: Post-16 budget grant
We have updated the post-16 budget grant (previously called the post-16 schools budget grant) methodology and conditions of grant and published allocations from April 2025.
From April 2025, the grant includes further education colleges and sixth-form colleges.
This one-off grant will enable providers to respond to current priorities and challenges, including workforce recruitment and retention.
6. Webinar: FMS comparison matrix
Tuesday 13 May 2025, midday to 12:45pm.
7. Webinar: Academy finance professionals May Power Hour – HMRC
Thursday 15 May 2025, 3pm to 4pm.
8. Webinar: RPA Members only – Cyber workshop
Wednesday 21 May 2025, 10am to midday.
9. Webinars: Schools Commercial team summer webinars
The DfE Schools Commercial team has a range of summer term webinars scheduled to help those who buy goods and services for schools save time, buy compliantly, and receive value for money.