EFA e-bulletin for academies: 22 October 2015
Published 22 October 2015
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1. Action: August 2015 accounts return updated
EFA has published an updated version of the August 2015 accounts return for academy trusts preparing 31 August 2015 accounts. This now includes all the academies open at 31 August in the counterparty and reference tables and some minor changes in donation and fixed asset disclosures.
You will need to use this version to submit your return to us by 31 January 2016.
2. Information: transitioning to SORP 2015
EFA has published a brief guide on the transition to Financial Reporting Standard (FRS) 102 and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 2015 for academy trusts incorporated before 1 January 2015.
These academy trusts will first use SORP 2015 to prepare their financial statements for the period ending 31 August 2016, but need to think about transition issues whilst preparing accounts for the year ended 31 August 2015. The guide sets out the main changes arising from SORP 2015 that are relevant to these trusts and the transition actions that will be required.
New trusts incorporated on or after 1 January 2015 do not need to consider the transition issues set out in the guide as they will use SORP 2015 from the outset.
If you have any questions about the new SORP, you are encouraged to discuss them with your auditors in the first instance.
3. Information: PE and sport premium funding for 2015 to 2016
EFA has published funding allocations for the PE and sport premium which primary schools will receive in the academic year 2015 to 2016.
We will pay academies their first instalment (seven-twelths) of the allocation on 2 November. This will appear as a separate item on your remittance. We will pay the remainder in May 2016.
For schools teaching pupils in years 1 to 6 for the first time this academic year we will base the funding on your autumn 2015 census data, with payments in February 2016 and May 2016.
We have revised the grant conditions this year. The most significant changes include:
- ways in which the premium should not be spent
- website reporting requirements
Guidance on the PE and sport premium has links to sources of advice and guidance on using the premium effectively, including a tool to help measure and report on the impact of spending.
4. Information: Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) information for applicants
EFA has published further information for academies and sixth-form colleges applying to access the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) in the 2016 to 2017 financial year.
The CIF application portal is now open. Eligible single academy trusts, smaller multi-academy trusts (MATs) and sixth-form colleges have until 16 December to submit an application for capital funding to address significant building condition issues.
5. Reminder: autumn school census deadline
The deadline for approved submissions for the autumn school census 2015 is Wednesday 28 October.
Please be aware that once you have completed editing your return, you must press the ‘submit’ button in COLLECT to allow the DfE to access your return.
EFA has produced a series of short training videos providing an overview of the school census, how to prepare and submit your data and how the data is used.
Please use the data collections helpdesk service request form for queries about the return.
Please use the interactive post-16 census tool to help you make accurate post-16 school census data returns.
6. Reminder: large programmes data reports for institutions
EFA would like to remind institutions that the business case process for large programmes closes on 23 October 2015. We have informed those institutions who have students on large programmes qualifying for the large programme uplift in 2016 to 2017.
The reports explaining how we will apply the uplift and how to complete a business case are available to download from the EFA Document Exchange – folder: [Other Submissions>AY 2015-16 folder].
If you think the report is inaccurate for at least 5 students, or if you think that you should receive the uplift but have no report, you should submit a business case.
If you have difficulty in accessing the EFA Document Exchange, guidance is available on GOV.UK.