Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 12 November 2015

Published 12 November 2015

This correspondence was withdrawn on 13 December 2019

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.

1. Information: 2016 to 2017 academic year post-16 allocations timeline

EFA have updated information on our post-16 allocations timeline and expected data sources for 2016 to 2017 allocations on GOV.UK. There are still some elements subject to change after the spending review but we wanted to update institutions with the latest information available.

The annual post-16 funding letter will be issued after the spending review.

2. Information: how to submit sixth-form college financial statements

The process for sixth-form colleges to submit their financial statements and associated documents to EFA has changed this year.

Sixth-form colleges must submit these documents for the year ended 31 July 2015 using the document exchange within EFA Information Exchange.

EFA has published a detailed guide on how to do this.

The college accounts direction sets out what documents must be submitted. The submission deadline is 31 December 2015.

3. Information: apprenticeship study pack for 16 to 19 year olds and the teachers handbook

Skills Funding Agency has updated the apprenticeship study pack for 16 to 19 year olds and the Teachers handbook on GOV.UK.

Students can use the self-development pack to find out about the apprenticeships available to them so they can choose the right employment and education path. The teachers’ handbook supports the apprenticeship self-development pack.

4. Information: Sixth-Form College Commissioner - recruitment of assessment advisers outcome

Following a joint and open recruitment exercise with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), we have appointed six sixth-form college advisers to support Peter Mucklow in his role as Sixth-form College Commissioner. The advisers will support Peter Mucklow with both early and formal intervention activity, and area based reviews. All have extensive experience of leading and improving in the sixth-form college sector. The appointed advisers are:

• John Boyle: John is the Chair of Governors for Blackpool Sixth Form College and a national leader of governance under the National College for Teaching and Leadership and the Education and Training Foundation/Association of Colleges schemes

• Felicity Greeves: Felicity is CEO of the Fylde Coast Academy Trust and the Fylde Coast Teaching School. She was Principal of Blackpool Sixth Form College from 2004 to 2014

• Neil Hopkins: Neil was Principal of Peter Symonds College for 20 years until 2013. He was Executive Director of the Maple Group of six form colleges from 2013 to 2015. Neil is also a governing body member in an FE college and a school

• Daphne King: Daphne was Principal of East Norfolk Sixth Form College from 2012 to August 2015 and is currently a governing body member at an academy school, and a trustee for a multi academy trust

• Josephine Nowacki: Josephine was one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) for Further Education and Skills from 2003 until 2015. She was a senior HMI for North East, Yorkshire and the Humber from 2013 until 2015. Prior to this, Josephine spent almost all of her teaching career in sixth-form colleges

• Mike Southworth: Mike was the Principal and Chief Executive of Priestley College from 2002 until 2014

5. Reminder: update your contact information

Please remember that you should inform the EFA of any changes to your contact details using ‘My Contact Information’ in the EFA Information Exchange.

This is a requirement for certain roles in academy trusts as defined in Academies Financial Handbook and important for all institutions. Information about My Contact Information is on GOV.UK.

6. Action: reducing teachers’ workload

The Secretary of State for Education has set up 3 review groups in response to the Workload Challenge survey.

The groups are looking at marking, planning and data management. They will set out principles and make recommendations about reducing teachers’ workload in these areas.

They would like to hear about effective marking, planning and data management practice in schools which maximises the impact of time spent dealing with these areas but which minimises the effects on teacher workload.

If you can help, please send a brief outline of your work to the Teacher Workload Team by Friday 11 December. They will then call you to discuss your work in greater depth.