EFA e-bulletin for academies: 21 May 2015
Published 21 May 2015
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1. Information: March accounts return due 31 May
Education Funding Agency (EFA) requires academy trusts that did not prepare audited financial statements as at 31 August 2014 and academy trusts that opened new academies between 1 September 2014 and 31 March 2015 to submit a March 2015 accounts return by 31 May 2015.
We have published the return and guidance about completing and submitting the return.
A training video and a recording of the webinar held on 30 April are also available.
2. Information: March accounts return validation tests
EFA’s delivery partner, Deloitte, uses validation tests to identify errors in academy trusts’ accounts returns. We have now published the validation tests for the March accounts return.
Deloitte may need to contact some academy trusts to ask for more information about their return.
3. Action: budget forecast webinar registration
Register now for the budget forecast return webinar that we are holding at 3pm on 17 June. You can submit questions before and during this live session.
4. Information: devolved formula capital (DFC) allocations for 2015 to 2016
The Department for Education has published final school-level DFC allocations for 2015 to 2016 for schools open on the January 2014 spring census date. The final allocations include all schools that, as at 1 April 2015, had converted to academy status since the January 2014 census.
New schools, including academies and free schools without any predecessors, that opened after the January 2014 census date will become eligible to receive a DFC allocation from 2016 to 2017.
EFA will pay academy trusts and voluntary aided schools their allocation in June. Maintained schools will receive their allocation from their local authority.
5. Action: providing academy trust contact information
Academy trusts have 14 days to notify EFA when there’s a change to the chair of the board of trustees, accounting officer or chief financial officer.
We have an online form for you to provide your trust’ contact information.
There are different requirements depending on your trust’s funding agreement. Please check this before completing the form.
Unfortunately, you can’t currently view the contacts we hold on your institution. We are planning to introduce a new system that will resolve this issue.
In the meantime, if you’re in any doubt about whether the EFA holds the latest contact information for your trust then please submit the relevant details and we’ll replace any existing contacts.
6. Action: school census day 21 May
Thursday 21 May is the 2015 summer school census day. The deadline for submitting data is Wednesday 17 June.
Please use the data collections service request form for any queries.
7. Information: risk protection arrangement (RPA) for academy trusts
The risk protection arrangement (RPA) for academy trusts is an alternative to insurance where UK government funds cover any losses that arise. The arrangement started on 1 September 2014 with 619 academy members. As at 1 May 2015 the RPA membership was 1,138 academies.
We’ve published a version of the RPA membership rules for church academies following discussions with the National Society of the Church of England and the Catholic Education Service. These rules apply in church academies where trustees of church organisations allow an academy trust to occupy property belonging to the trustees.
8. Action: summer school registration
Secondary academies can now register their summer schools using the short registration form on the Key to Success website. The deadline for submissions is 29 May 2015.
Please use your Secure Access username and password to login then select ‘Key to Success’.
If you need technical support using Secure Access, please raise a service request. All service requests will be answered within 5 working days.
9. Reminder: purchasing energy for schools
The Crown Commercial Service has published additional energy for schools guidance to help schools achieve greater value for money when purchasing energy.