EFA e-bulletin for academies: 16 March 2017
Published 16 March 2017
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/efa-e-bulletin-16-march-2017-issue-166/efa-e-bulletin-for-academies-16-march-2017
1. Information: academies March accounts return
New financial reporting arrangements mean that the cycle for new academies and newly formed academy trusts to submit their financial returns is the same as all other trusts.
Because of this, we have withdrawn the academies March accounts return. We no longer require trusts to submit this return.
2. Reminder: EFA independent appeal panel complaints
Academies must instruct clerks that run their admission appeals to include a link to the Academy independent admission appeal complaints factsheet in the panel’s decision letter.
Please follow the statutory requirements in both the School admission appeals code and the School admissions code when organising admission appeals.
To limit the number of complaints made about independent appeal panels, and to ensure any complaints are dealt with as effectively as possible, we remind academies and clerks that:
- the appeals panel must decide if the academy’s admission criteria were properly followed and are legal
- if the criteria are legal and were properly followed, the panel must decide if they were followed fairly and thoroughly
- to ensure complaints about the panel can be administered quickly and efficiently, academies are required to ensure clerks’ notes and other records are accurate, legible and issued to appellants and EFA in good time
3. Information: network for school business management (SBM) professionals
The Schools’ buying strategy was published recently and provides an opportunity for schools business management (SBM) and associated finance colleagues to either join or set up local SBM networks.
SBM networks are collaborating, saving money and making their schools more efficient in a difficult financial environment. DfE schools commercial team colleagues want to support you and facilitate best practice across all schools with an online forum and webinars.
Please email the Schools Commercial Team for more information or to register your interest in joining or setting up a local SBM network.