Correspondence

EFA e-bulletin for schools, colleges, local authorities and other 16 to 19 providers: 23 April 2015

Published 23 April 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This correspondence was withdrawn on

This has been withdrawn as it’s out of date. The EFA e-bulletin has been replaced by ESFA Update.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: funding study programmes - planned hours

Education Funding Agency (EFA) has published further information on planned hours in study programmes.

The information provides you with one source of detailed information to help you understand planned hours.

It covers planned hours funded by EFA, including examples of those funded and not funded, and on planned hours and allocations.

We have included examples and set out what you need to know to successfully record your students’ planned hours.

2. Information: Condition Improvement Fund appeals

Those who were unsuccessful in their applications to the Condition Improvement Fund (CIF) will be able to appeal next week through the CIF application website.

Guidance on the appeals process is available on the CIF application website. The deadline for receipt of appeals will be midday on 19 May.

3. Action: college accounts direction for 2014 to 2015

Jointly with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA), we have published the colleges’ accounts direction for 2014 to 2015.

This provides direction to colleges and auditors in preparing financial statements for the year ending 31 July 2015.

Sixth-form colleges must return their audited financial statements, auditor’s management letter and finance record for the year ending 31 July 2015 to EFA by 31 December 2015. We will confirm the submission route nearer the deadline.

The Association of Colleges will separately publish a supporting handbook that gives technical advice to colleges on the application of the accounts direction.

4. Information: college accounts data for 2013 to 2014

Jointly with the SFA, we have published college accounts data for 2013 to 2014.

This information allows colleges to compare their financial data with national totals and other colleges and organisations.

The information is taken from the combined SFA and EFA database of college finance records for the year ended 31 July 2014.

5. Information: EFA Information Exchange - knowledge centre

The knowledge centre is now available on EFA Information Exchange, available through the Department for Education Secure Access site. This will help you find answers to the most common queries that you have in dealing with EFA and an easy to use enquiry form.

EFA Information Exchange also has a calendar of forthcoming deadlines and milestones, which you can filter, print and download to your email calendar. This replaces the EFA wall-planner on GOV.UK, which has now been archived.

EFA Information Exchange can be accessed by all institutions which we fund. If you have any difficulties logging on, please check our support information on GOV.UK.

6. Contacts

All 16 to 19 providers can get in touch with the EFA through the relevant territorial inbox, unless a different email address is specified in an article.

16 to 19 providers - northern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in north west, north east and Yorkshire and the Humber with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - central and south west territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south west, west midlands and east midlands with queries for the Education Funding Agency

16 to 19 providers - southern territory

For local authorities, schools, colleges and other (non-academy) providers in south east, east of England and London with queries for the Education Funding Agency

Academies should contact the Academy Enquiries Service:

EFA questions

For schools, local authorities, other education institutions and providers, accountants, auditors and other professional advisers with queries for the Education Funding Agency