Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for academies: 12 March 2015

Published 12 March 2015

This correspondence was withdrawn on

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

1. Information: new bank details form for academies

Education Funding Agency (EFA) has published a new form for academies to use to notify us of new bank account details or any changes to their bank details. From 16 March 2015, academies requesting any changes to bank or remittance details should complete this form and email it to StandingData.EFA@education.gsi.gov.uk.

Newly-converted academies that are setting up new bank accounts rather than making changes to existing ones should submit their completed forms to AcademiesNewDetails.EFA@education.gsi.gov.uk.

2. Information: post-16 study programmes - work experience

We have published comprehensive information on the funding treatment of work experience within a study programme on GOV.UK.

3. Information: publication of updated 16 to 19 Bursary guide for 2015 to 2016

We will be publishing the updated 16 to 19 Bursary guide in May this year. There are no significant policy changes for institutions to take note of. The guide will be published in a more accessible format, including more case studies of good practice.

4. Action: spring school census 2015

As we enter the final week of the spring school census 2015, a number of files remain at the ‘loaded and validated’ or ‘amended by source’ status in COLLECT.

You must press the ‘submit’ button in COLLECT to allow the Department for Education to access your data. You are also asked to check your returns for missing notes and provide the required note, using the notepad entry guide provided.

Pupil premium funding reports are available for schools to run from the reports section of the school census COLLECT blade. Schools should ensure these reports are checked and verified in conjunction with local finance officers before the database closes as amendments will not be possible afterwards.

5. Information: workload challenge for schools

Last month, the government published its response to the workload challenge for schools and an analysis of the findings. To support the response, the Department for Education would like to publish some case studies about what works well in schools to reduce unnecessary workload, particularly in:

  • short, medium and long term planning
  • marking
  • inputting, monitoring and analysing data
  • reporting on pupils progress
  • using planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time
  • using teaching assistants and other support

If you are able to help, please email workload.solutions@education.gsi.gov.uk with brief details of your approach.